By George Akpayen
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) newcomers, Ikorodu City, suffered defeat in their first-ever home game when they fell 0-1 to champions Rangers International in one of Wednesday’s rearranged fixtures.
Ikorodu City lost one-nil to the champions after a first half goal from Chinemerem Ugwueze on 25 minutes off a Kazeem Ogunleye corner kick at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
City were second best for most of the opening exchanges before Rangers, who just got bundled out of the CAF Champions League, got their noses in front. Late in the game, Ogunleye was sent off for a second booking leaving Rangers to finish the final moments in added time with a man less.
Bright Ozegbagbei’s men put up an improved performance in the second half but it was not enough to salvage even a point in their debut home game in the division as the loss leaves them bottom of the standings with one point from three matches.
The other contest of the midweek was at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba where all three goals were scored in the first half with Enyimba edging past Lobi Stars with a goal margin.
The nine-time Nigerian champions needed a four-minute spell in the early moments of the match to take a two-goal advantage. Chinedu Ufere scored on 13 minutes and three minutes later, Eze Ekwutoziam doubled the lead for the Aba club.
Nine before the break, Waheed Adebayo halved Enyimba’s lead but that was the much the game provided as per goalscoring.
Enyimba, who have played a game less, are now within three points of table-topping Remo Stars.
This weekend Ikorodu City will play hosts to Nasarawa United as the new boys continue their search for their first-ever win in the top-flight while Rangers travel to Ikenne to face table-topping Remo Stars.