19th July, 2012
GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN
Three penalties were awarded in the match that saw Nigeria Premier League leaders, Rangers Football Club of Enugu crash out of the 2012 Federation Cup.
Rangers lost by 3-2 to Port Harcourt-based Sharks at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday.
Two of Sharks’ three goals were scored through penalties by Victor Ezeji and Thankgod Amafule, while Chikeluba Ofoedu Scored the third goal.
Rangers also scored their first goal through a penalty kick and got the second goal.
Referee of the match, Wale, who is the Chairman of Oyo State Referees Association was not lucky as he was manhandled by fans of both teams who claimed that his officiating was not fair.
It was the timely intervention of security men on duty that saved him, as he was being whiskered away from the fans who tried to lynch him.
A visibly angry General Manager/Vice Chairman of Rangers, Uzorpaul Chibuzor, said that bad officiating was responsible for their loss and eventual exit from this year’s Federation Cup.
Coach of Shark FC, Imama Amapakabo also said that the referee robbed them of a goal in the course of the pulsating cracker.
“It’s true that the officiating of the match in Ibadan was bad. Just as our opponents were robbed, so was my team robbed of one goal,” Amapakabo said.
He said Sharks would win the cup going by the level of preparation and efforts put in by his players.
With four points, Sharks stand a chance of surviving in the group.
If Shark win their last match on Friday, they will have seven points to top the table, but can also crash out of the competition if they lose to Prime FC.