NPFL: Rangers happy with point won at Kwara United
Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, the chief coach of Rangers international of Enugu, says he and the team are delighted to return to Enugu with a point at a ‘difficult’ Kwara United.
The NPFL reigning champions earned a valuable point as a Kingsley Maduforo’ 44th minute goal cancelled out an earlier lead by the host, Kwara United as both sides shared the spoils.
‘We came to Ilorin with a game plan which was to pick the three points at stake, but I thank God for the draw we got.
‘Kwara is not a small side going by the result they achieved in the last two encounters, and we came prepared. We shall return to our base and prepare seriously for our next game against Nasarawa United in Enugu. I thank God for this result.’
Maduforo, the goalscorer for the Flying Antelopes is also delighted with the result.
‘I am really happy for the goal I scored, and I dedicate it to the entire team as we fought very hard together for this result against Kwara United which gave us a great fight,’ he said.
Rangers coach stuck with the line-up squad that held Akwa United to a draw a week back and they could have shot into an early lead but for the alertness of goalkeeper, Nurudeen Badmos on 2 minutes.
Chances also fell for Kazeem Ogunleye and Isaac Saviour on 4 and 15 minutes but Badmos showed the stuff he was made of while the Rangers backline also displayed great coordination to provide cover for Lucky Abdullahi.
The home side gradually crept out of their defensive shells as the game went past the half-hour mark with Junior Aimufua, Issa Gata, and Wasiu Alalade probing for openings which fell for them in the last five minutes of the first period when Yahaya Ibrahim delivered an inch perfect cross that was expertly tucked in by Shola Abdulraheem on 42 minutes to send the near capacity filled stadium into celebrations.
Two minutes later, the visitors drew level when Maduforo Kingsley met a Kazeem Ogunleye’ corner-kick with a precise cycle kick that silenced the crowd while the few traveling fans went on celebrations.
When both sides returned for the second period, it was the home side that were more hungrier as they pushed the visitors back but could not find a way past the neatly set defense line while banking on some counter-attacking move to catch the home side.
Rangers now have twelve points from nine matches and occupy the 9th spot on the twenty team log and will next play Nasarawa United F.C in a match day 10 fixture scheduled for Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on November 3, 2024.
