Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu on Sunday announced their return to Awka as temporary home for their NPFL games with an emphatic 3-1 win against visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia on Match Day 7.
The star studded Rangers Enugu team enthralled the ecstatic crowd with sharp dribbles and accurate passes before sending them into a frenzy with a 37min strike off the foot of goal poacher, Godwin Obaje. The first half ended with 1-0 in favour of Rangers.
Skipper Chidibere Nwobodo extended the lead of the Flying Antelopes when he took advantage of a rebound off the goalkeeper to rest the ball inside the net in the 49th minute.
Reprieve came the way of Abia Warriors when a spot kick was awarded to them following Austin Okpara handling of the ball inside the 18-yard box
The call was perfectly converted by Obioma Chukwuemeka who sent Lucky Jimoh of Rangers the wrong way to put the score line at 2-1 still in favour of Rangers in the 53rd minute.
Jibrin Faiz of Abia Warriors got a red card in the 77th minute to make the side play at a disadvantage till 90+1 mins when Daniel Akolade of Rangers sealed the fate of the visitor to end the game with 3-1.
Imama Amapakabo, Coach of Abia Warriors, said his team created the most chances but did not make use of them
Amapakabo said the loss was largely technical and not tactical adding that the team was upbeat as there was still a long way to go in the league.
Awka came to life with good football as supporters who thronged the stadium to see the oriental NPFL derby filled the stadium to capacity and beyond. Rangers’ next game in Awka will be against Bendel Insurance.
