By Amaechi Agbo
A spirited Akwa United side held reigning NPFL champions, Rangers International FC to a 1-1 draw in Enugu on Sunday in a Match day 28 of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. The result leaves Rangers in 5th place, while Akwa United secured a valuable away point.
The visitors, Akwa United, started the game with a clear intent to disrupt the home side’s rhythm. Their efforts paid off in the 24th minute when Osoba Kabir found the back of the net, silencing the Enugu crowd as the coach Kennedy Boboye tutored side went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead.
Rangers emerged after the break with renewed vigor, determined to salvage the match as coach Fidelis Ilechukwu introduced the trio of Williams Wonah, Daniel Onyia and Ikechukwu Mgbemena for Chinemerem Ugwueze, Hillary Ekawu and Bashir Usman.Their pressure quickly yielded results, as they were awarded a penalty in the 48th minute. Isaac Saviour stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, leveling the score and igniting the home supporters.
The remainder of the second half saw Rangers pushing hard for a winning goal. Godwin Obaje, Kingsley Maduforo, Isaac Saviour, and Williams Wonah all had opportunities to secure victory, but Akwa United’s goalkeeper, Jean Efala, put in an outstanding performance, making a series of crucial saves to deny the home side.
Rangers now occupy the 5th spot on the twenty team log with 42 points from 28 matches and will next host Kwara United FC in a match day 29 fixture inside ‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu and will be seeking all points at stake to keep hopes alive for a respectable finish on the log.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, in a post match chat, said, “I think we did not put in our best in the first half, maybe due to Akwa United’ position on the log and it nearly cost us the match. It is quite unfortunate that what we expected was not what we saw in the game. I feel my players underrated our opponent. This result is a very big setback to the team’s ambition.”
