By Amaechi Agbo
A 22nd-minute header by Uwumiro Frank from a well-treaded corner kick by Agu Kenechukwu turned out to be the winning goal for Nigeria league champions, Rangers International F.C in the first leg, the preliminary round of TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 season over Comoros Island champions, U.S Zilimadjou in a match played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The encounter which was a home fixture for the Comoros side that elected to prosecute the match in Nigeria due to the non-approval of its stadium, saw the ‘Flying Antelopes’ coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, line up a crack backline that had Onyebuchi Ifeanyi and Opara Austin at the heart of defense with the quartet of Tekena Garando, Ugwueze Chinemerem, Saviour Isaac and Agu Kenechukwu taking charge of the middle of the pack leaving Uwumiro Frank and Okorie Chiedozie to probe for the goals upfront.
Rangers quickly went on the offensive at the blast of the referee’s whistle signaling the start of hostilities. Still, the agility of Youssouf Djawadi who was between the sticks for the home side meant that the game was denied early goals.
But the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop the young, lanky, Uwumiro from connecting home with a splendid headed effort off Kenechukwu Agu’s corner kick and the fans went into a frenzy.
Uwumiro would have grabbed his brace four minutes later after some neat interchange of passes between Joel Odoh and Isaac Saviour left the opposing players stranded but his effort inside the box inexplicably went over the crossbar as the bench of the Comoros side heaved a sigh of relief while the Nigerian side’s bench rued a big chance gone begging.
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