The NPFL reigning champions, Rangers International F.C on Monday, October 28, 2024, in a re-arranged match day 9 fixture inside Kwara State Stadium Complex, earned a valuable point as a Kingsley Maduforo’ 44th minute goal cancelled out an earlier lead by the host, Kwara United as both sides shared the spoils.
The coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored side that was led on this trip by chief coach Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu stuck with the match day squad that held Akwa United to a draw a week back and they could have shot into an early lead but for the alertness of goalkeeper, Nurudeen Badmos on 2 minutes.
Chances also fell for Kazeem Ogunleye and Isaac Saviour on 4 and 15 minutes but Badmos showed the stuff he was made of while the Rangers backline also displayed great coordination to provide cover for Lucky Abdullahi.
The home side gradually crept out of their defensive shells as the game went past the half-hour mark with Junior Aimufua, Issa Gata, and Wasiu Alalade probing for openings which fell for them in the last five minutes of the first period when Yahaya Ibrahim delivered an inch perfect cross that was expertly tucked in by Shola Abdulraheem on 42 minutes to send the near capacity filled stadium into celebrations.
Two minutes later, the visitors drew level when Maduforo Kingsley met a Kazeem Ogunleye’ corner-kick with a precise cycle kick that silenced the crowd while the few traveling fans went on celebrations.
When both sides returned for the second period, it was the home side that were more hungrier as they pushed the visitors back but could not find a way past the neatly set defense line while banking on some counter-attacking move to catch the home side.
The introduction of the Godwin Obaje and Chinecherem Ugwueze in the last ten minutes of the match saw the visitors push further for the winning goal but goalkeeper, Badmos made two great saves to deny Obaje and Odoh Joel as the encounter was brought to an end by the referee after running it’s full cause.
In a post-match chat, chief coach of Rangers, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, said, “We came to Ilorin with a game plan which was to pick the three points at stake but I thank God for the draw we got. Kwara is not a small side going by the result they achieved in the last two encounters and we came prepared. We shall return to our base and prepare seriously for our next game against Nasarawa United in Enugu. I thank God for this result.”
Kingsley Maduforo in his post-match chat, said, “I am really happy for the goal I scored and I dedicate it to the entire team as we fought very hard together for this result against Kwara United which gave us a great fight.”
With this result, Rangers now have twelve points from nine matches and occupy the 9th spot on the twenty team log and will next play Nasarawa United F.C in a match day 10 fixture scheduled for Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on November 3, 2024.
CREDIT: R.I.F.C.E, ENUGU