As the much-anticipated 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) kicked off in Enugu, the reigning league champions, Rangers International FC, started their title defense on a shaky note.
The Flying Antelopes failed to score against the visiting El-Kanemi Warriors from Maiduguri, a team that had just been eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup.
Recall that the Maiduguri-based El-Kanemi Warriors became the first Nigerian club to be eliminated from the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup. The team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Dadje FC of Benin in Cotonou on Saturday, resulting in a 3-2 aggregate loss due to a 1-1 draw earlier played at the Remo Stars International Stadium in Ikenne.
However, the 2024/2025 NPFL opener did not live up to expectations, as the home team created little to test the visiting Desert Warriors. Both teams had chances to score, but it was El-Kanemi that was more dominant in creating opportunities.
The Desert Warriors would have likely won the game were it not for a brilliant save by Rangers International goalkeeper Japhet Opubo, who denied a sure goal and saved his team from further embarrassment.
The match ended goalless, with both teams sharing the spoils at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Stadium, Enugu, also known as 'the Cathedral.'
The remaining nine matches will be played next weekend, as the organizers fulfilled their promise to start the new season as scheduled.
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