Rangers shift focus to Niger Tornadoes game in Minna after losing unbeaten run to Shooting Stars
Chief coach of Rangers, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu says the club has shifted focus to next Sunday’s game at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna where they will be guest of Niger Tornadoes in one Of the match day 19 fixtures of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.
The ‘Flying Antelopes’, as Rangers are called lost 1-0 to their traditional rivals, Shooting Stars of Ibadan at the ‘Cathedral’, the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu on Sunday, a result Ekenedilichukwu says came about because of their carelessness.
‘It was a very sad one today. It was a very bad game we had today but that is football for us. Sometimes, it happens, and our carelessness gave away the goal, but we have to put the result behind us and march forward as we still have more games to play this season,’ said the Rangers coach post-match.
The Coal City outfit came into the match aiming to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games but were undone by Ikouwem Utim’s 27th minute strike from the edge of the box which handed the Oluyole Warriors a road win in a match day 18 fixture.
Ejike Ugochukwu got a half chance to draw Rangers level just two minutes later after he was fed by Kenechukwu Agu as the visitor’s defended in their numbers.
At the start of the second period, a double substitution was effected by the bench of the reigning champions which saw the introduction of Kazeem Ogunleye and Silas Nenrot and it was an instant swing of the pendulum as the visitors sat deep to defend all that was thrown at them.
The introduction of Kingsley Maduforo and Chiedozie Okorie as the match crept past the hour mark further increased the opportunities for a leveller which came in the form of a penalty kick awarded by the referee after right-back, Effimi Nsi, was hacked down inside the box on 82 minutes but the resultant kick was blazed over the bar by Ikenna Stephen as the packed stadium rued a missed opportunity while the visiting crew celebrated.
Rangers drop to the 4th spot on the log with the loss and will travel to trade tackles with Niger Tornadoes in the last match of the first round on December 29, 2024, at the Bako Kotangora Stadium, Minna, Niger State.
