Imo Strikers emerge winners of Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup Championship in Asaba

Former champions, Rangers International FC of Enugu on Sunday beat visiting Sporting Lagos 2-0 in one of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL played in Awka, the team’s adopted home ground.

A goal in each half of a highly entertaining maImo Strikers have been crowned undisputed champions of the 2023 Ifeanyi Chiejine Memorial Cup Championship after an emphatic and sweeping 6-1 thrashing of Giant Empress in the epic final decided Sunday at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
The Oriental Derby saw Chidi Harmony, score double brace, to take her total tally in the championship to 14, an incredible record never seen before in global football.
The double brace brings her total tally in the championship to 14 goals, with Oscar Precious, her strike terror teammate, scoring one to take her tally in the week-long festival of football orchestra to seven goals.
The Arugo Girls went 2-0 up in the first period, with Harmony opening the floodgate of goals in the very first minute after kick off. She went on to double her side’s advantage four minutes later as the rampant Nelly Orisakwe girls went 2-0 up going into the break.
With their eyes fixed on the top prize, Imo Strikers resumed from where they left off in the first period, increasing their tally to 3-0 early in the second half.
The Girls from the God’s Own State, Abia, reduced the deficit twenty minutes into the restart, much to the chagrin of Imo Strikers who went on to add three more goals to bring the final scores to 6-1 in favour of the 2022 losing finalists, Imo Strikers.
Right from the first day of the championship, Imo Strikers made no pretences about their desire and determination to win after narrowly missing last year’s top prize.
They did not only emerge overall champions in grand style, they convincingly went ahead to sweep the individual awards in a most emphatic fashion.
Chidi Harmony, with unassailable haul of 14 goals in the week-long tournament, emerged undisputed highest goal scorer and took home the golden shoe award.
Her teammate, Oscar Precious, was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player, MVP, of the tournament while Giant Empress goalkeeper was the voted as Best Goalkeeper of the Championship.
Brave Hearts of Benin won the Fair Play Award As the competition came to a thrilling climax on Sunady, 17 December, 2023.
tchday 14 NPFL fixture ensured that the ‘Flying Antelopes’, got back to winning ways as they stopped a youthful, Sporting Lagos F.C before the appreciative supporters at the Awka City Stadium.

Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu of Rangers opted for a more attacking option of play in this encounter as he rested more than half of the match day 13 starting squad in Yenagoa and he was not disappointed with the blistering start of the match from his wards.

The quartet of Chidiebere Nwobodo, Austin Onyemaechi, Okorie Chiedozie, and Naziru Auwalu at the blast of the referee’s whistle signaling the start of hostilities went on rampage but for the brilliance of the visitor’s shot stopper, Nwoke Christian, who reacted well to push out an Auwalu’ curly shot of two minutes and stood firm to prevent David Chimezie’ left footed shot from the resulting corner kick from nestling in the net.

In 9 minutes, Austin Onyemaechi broke the deadlock with a stinging shot that went through the goalkeeper’s legs after Austin Opara had found Nwobodo who sent a delicate chip to the unmarked Onyemaechi as the home bench rose to celebrate.

More opportunities came the way of the host but some unpardonable missed opportunities off the boots of Nwobodo, Okorie, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi coupled with the brilliance of Nwoke, who stood tall between the sticks for the visiting, Sporting Lagos, even though, Okorie thought he had doubled the lead on 12 minutes but the referee chopped off his effort.

In the second half, the opportunities came for both sides with more coming the way of the home side. Still, they went begging and with three minutes to the end of proceedings, Anthony Henry fouled goal-bound, Nwobodo inside the box and the referee wasted no time in making the call and substitute, Agu Kenechukwu, fired an unstoppable shot past Nwoke Christian for the second goal of the encounter on 89 minutes to send the cheering fans at the stadium into wild jubilations.
Chief coach of Rangers, Alli Suleman, who spoke in the post-match briefing, said, “It was a good game against a strong side but we wanted it more and got the result we wanted and worked for. We understood that we have not done well in our last four matches and the boys upped their game today for the result that we are celebrating. The importance of this win today is that it has raised the morale of the players as we prepare for our next match which is against Enyimba in Aba. We thank God for the victory.”

With the win, Rangers now occupy the 10th spot on the twenty teams log with eighteen points from 13 matches as the encounter with Rivers United remains postponed and will on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, trade tackles with Enyimba International in an ‘Oriental Derby’ at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba in an NPFL re-arranged match day 15 fixture.