By Ikenna Nwokedi
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International, kicked off the defence of their title with a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Saturday.
The new season’s curtain raiser coincidentally was a meeting between two club sides that finished as champions of the league and FA Cup (now known as President Federation Cup) with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau in attendance.
The first half was a case of few chances from both ends as the sides failed to create a glorious opportunity with the half ending in a stalemate.
Twelve minutes into the restart, Nasiru Salihu came close to breaking the deadlock but missed from a promising position after being set up by Aminu Mohammed in a swift counter-attacking move by El-Kanemi.
In the 66th minute, Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo made himself big to deny Jacob Jonathan whose effort was goal-bound.
The Flying Antelopes almost won at the dead of the game but for a big save by El-Kanemi Warriors goalkeeper Abine George to deny Ifeanyi Onyebuchi’s goal-bound headed effort from a corner kick.
Reacting after the match, El-Kanemi Warriors head coach, Aliyu Zubairu described the match as three points lost as his team created lots of scoring chances and should have won the game with the plethora of opportunities which came the way of his team.
Match Details:
Rangers Int’l: Japhet Opubo, Ikenna Steven, Evans Ogbonda, Austin Opara, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Ejike Ugochukwu, Chinemerem Ugwueze (Hillary Ekawu 71′), Kenechukwu Agu (Kareem Ogunleye 71′), Saviour Isaac, Ekeson Okorie (Bashir Usman 62′), Chiedozie Okorie (Onyekachi Okafor 62′).
Unused substitutes: Lucky Abdullahi, Charles Okafor, Kenneth Igboke, Tekena Gerando, Frank Uwumiro, Williams Wonah.
El-Kanemi Warriors: Abine George, Adamu Bajibir (Henry Ndedi 88′), Usman Abbas, Zayyad Musa, Muktar Mohammed, Monday Daniel, Al-Amin Umar, Nasiru Salihu, Gimba Ajiji, Aminu Mohammed (Suleiman Alabi Jojo 90+3′), Jacob Jonathan.
Unused substitutes: Kolawale Oladipo, Bilal Yakubu, Ibrahim Mustapha, Suleiman Moreola.