Enugu’s Rangers International FC triumphed over visiting Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan with a 2-0 win on Match Day 16 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
The match marked Rangers’ return to the stadium after its renovation, with Nweke Kalu scoring the opening goal in the 27th minute, signalling a vibrant start for the home team. Okorie Chiedozie further bolstered the lead in the 88th minute, sealing the victory for Rangers.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu expressed his elation, stating, “It is our first game inside the stadium; winning 2-0 and having a clean sheet is a nice welcome for the team.” He highlighted the players’ adjustment to the new turf, anticipating a dominating home ground, saying, “I hope this field will turn into a slaughter ground.”
Ilechukwu rejoiced at the sizable home crowd, drawing parallels with English football’s atmosphere, saying, “We are happy to play before our fans again and we have a large crowd today like we see at Liverpool and Chelsea matches in England.”
Despite the loss, 3SC coach Olugbenga Ogunbote praised his team’s effort, stating, “My players did not play too badly, except that we conceded two goals.” He emphasised the need to focus on positives, acknowledging that goals alone don’t define a team’s strength.
The win propelled Rangers FC to 9th position on the league table with 22 points from 15 matches. In contrast, 3SC maintained the 13th spot with 19 points, having played an equal number of matches.
