Rangers awarded three points, three goals in abandoned game vs Enyimba, move five points clear with three games to go!
Flying Antelopes need two wins in their final three games to win the NPFL title, Enyimba fined N10m for breaching NPFL rules
Rangers international football club of Enugu moved a step closer to clinching the 2023/24 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, title after they were awarded three points and three goals in their abandoned matchweek 35 fixture against defending champions, Enyimba of Aba.
The Flying Antelopes were awarded a penalty in the final minute of second half added time but the Enyimba players protested the penalty award and subsequently walked off off the pitch.
The NPFL has however awarded the match to Rangers and reprimanded Enyimba for bringing the game to disrepute.
In a summary jurisdiction notice issued on Monday, a day after the game, the NPFL Enyimba, by their conduct, actions and inactions, breached Rule C9, B6.23, B13.18, C1.1 and B13.24 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier Football League and fined the Peoples Elephant a total of N10m.
The NPFL also issued Enyimba an ‘order forfeiting 3 points and 3 goals in favour of your opponent refusing to allow the penalty awarded in favour of your opponenet to be taken, thereby disrupting the match and bringing the game to disrepute’.
The verdict means Rangers have now moved to 64 points on the log, five clear of the chasing duo of Enyimba and Remo Stars with just three games left to play.
The Flying Antelopes only need to win two of the remaining three games starting with Wednesday’s trip to old rivals, Shooting Stars of Ibadan who are eight points adrift of the visitors but still have a mathematical chance of winning the league.
Rangers will then play host to Bendel Insurance at ‘The Cathedral’, the Nnamdi Azikwe stadium in Enugu before travelling to Gombe to face relegation candidate, Gombe United in their final game of the season.
Enyimba will host relegation-threatened Bayelsa United this mid-week before travelling to Lagos another team fighting for survival, Sporting Lagos before hosting Plateau United in their final game of the season.
Remo Stars on the other hand will host Heartland of Owerri this mid-week before travelling to Akure to face Sunshine Stars, a team desperately in need of points for survival. The Kunle Soname boys will play Katsina United in their final game of the season.
