Defending champions Enugu Rangers secured a crucial 2-1 victory over league leaders Remo Stars in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash at the Nnamdi Azikwe stadium on Sunday, narrowing the gap between them to 10 points.
Rangers desperately needed a win after two victories in their last seven games saw them lose ground in the title race. In contrast, Remo Stars entered the match with confidence, boasting an 8-match unbeaten run and a 6-game winning streak.
The highly anticipated clash also marked the latest installment of the rivalry between two of the league’s top coaches, Fidelis Ilechukwu of Rangers and Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars, who have a history of friendship and success together, having led the Super Eagles B to qualify for the 2025 African Nations Championship.
Buoyed by their home crowd, Rangers took the lead in the 30th minute when Isaac Saviour scored a stunning free kick from over 25 meters, giving his team a 1-0 advantage at halftime.
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Rangers doubled their lead early in the second half, with Kingsley Maduforo scoring in the 49th minute off an assist from Kenneth Igboke. Despite their efforts, Remo Stars were unable to breach Rangers’ resilient defense until the 90th minute when they scored to reduce the deficit and set up a nervy finish at the Cathedral.
However, Rangers stayed disciplined in defense to grind out the win at the end, halting Remo Stars unbeaten streak and maintaining their presence in an intriguing title race which is expected to go down the wire.
The victory propelled Rangers to third place with 38 points from 24 matches, 10 points behind Remo Stars. The league leaders will now look to bounce back quickly in their pursuit of their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League title.
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