4th September, 2017
Rangers International Football Club of Enugu and Enyimba International FC of Aba on Sunday drew 1-1 draw in a week 37 match of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The visiting Enyimba surprised the hosts with good resilience from the first to the last blast of the referee’s whistle in the match played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
The visitors even put much more pressure on their hosts in the opening minutes, resulting in a penalty kick for them in the 23rd minute, which Ikechukwu Ibenegwu brilliantly converted.
Rangers fought back in the second half, forcing the visitors to commit a defensive blunder in the 87th minute for a penalty kick which Chibuzo Madu converted for the equaliser.
That Rangers’ fans wildly celebrated the equaliser, after having lost all hopes of their team coming back into the match.
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Speaking later, Rangers’ Team Manager, Ameobi Ezeaku, thanked the fans for believing in the team even in a difficult match.
Ezeaku, however, said the match was a difficult one for his team, praising his players for fighting relentlessly to get the draw.
Enyimba’s coach Gbenga Ogunbote, on his part, said it was painful for him that a last-minute defensive blunder cost his team victory and the three maximum points.
“It is unfortunate that we did not clinically conclude this match. However, our goal of picking a ticket to play on the continent in 2018 will be pursued to the last match,’’ Ogunbote assured.