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By Sobenna Nwagbo

Seven-time champions, Enugu Rangers on Wednesday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, secured a vital point in matchday 16 of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL 2021/2022 season after a one-all draw.

The match started 7pm under the flood light, attracted a large turn out of people who came to watch good football after the day’s engagement, and to witness the new meeting of two ancient clubs after Shooting Stars came back to the professional side from the lower league.

The host mindful of previous encounters and the present Rangers form, especially in away matches, was visibly jittery about what the outcome would be, but 90 minutes of play decided it.

Ikechukwu Eboko secured the vital point for Rangers in 45th minutes of play when he dribbled pass 2 Shooting Defenders, Uko Aniete and Abbey Benson, from Elijah Ani’s pass and placed the ball far away from the Goalkeeper, Charles Tambe. However, Enuademu Chinedu reduced the three points already in Rangers possession to one point each club in 57th minutes as a result of communication gap between the two Rangers defenders.

In his post match reactions, Coach Abdu Maikaba of Rangers said his boys did not play according to their game plans.

“My boys didn’t play perfectly to the instructions. They dominated the match, especially in the first half, but lost control in some part of second half, that resulted in the substitutions we effected”.

Maikaba described the officiating as “fantastic” and called for sustained night league matches.

“The officiating was fantastic”. If every team in Nigeria will organize themselves like the way Shooting Stars organized themselves, there will be more fund in the League, the league will be more beautiful and players play a better game because the weather will be calm”.

Next Rangers match is on Saturday at FCIU Stadium, Nnewi, against Gombe United by 4pm.

Full results of MD16

Akwa United 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Enyimba FC 2-1 Remo Stars
Gombe United 1-0 Abia Warriors
Kano Pillars 0-1 Rivers United
Katsina United 4-1 Dakkada FC
Lobi Stars 0-2 Plateau United
Nasarawa United 1-1 Kwara United
Niger Tornadoes 1-1 MFM FC
Sunshine Stars 3-1 Heartland FC
3SC 1 – 1 Rangers Int’l.