2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 11: Plateau United beatable in Jos, says Rangers' boss

Posted : 10 November 2024

As the reigning NPFL champions, Rangers International FC will visit Tin City, Jos, for a 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 11 fixture against Plateau United FC, known as the ‘Peace Boys’. The chief coach of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, has assured the club's loyal fans that the team is in Jos to secure a positive result.

The match, scheduled at New Jos Stadium, Zaria Road, Plateau State, will see the eight-time Nigerian champions, currently in 5th place with 15 points from ten matches, face the 2017 league champions, who are just one point and one position below them on the twenty-team table.

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In an exclusive chat, Coach Ekenedilichukwu stated that the squad traveling to Jos is carefully selected and determined to achieve a result that will sustain the club’s hopes of a successful title defense.

“We understand that this match is similar to a derby due to the number of players and coaches who have represented both teams in the past.

"Our opponents will be led by Rangers' former chief coach, Mbwas Mangut, and include former Rangers players Olawale Doyeni, Samuel Pam, and Ebuka Anthony. Meanwhile, we have our technical adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu, along with Kazeem Ogunleye, Austin Opara, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, and Silas Nenrot, who previously played for Plateau United."

“We expect a challenging match but are confident about the outcome,” Coach Ekenedilichukwu said.

Having gone three matches unbeaten, Rangers is well-positioned to leave Jos unscathed, as they did in Uyo and Ilorin, building on their strong performance in the Match Day 10 victory over Nasarawa United, where former league top-scorer Godwin Obaje scored twice.

When both teams clashed in the same fixture last season, Match Day 12, Plateau United won 2-1 with a late goal (90+4 minutes) by Olawale Doyeni after Chidiebere Nwobodo’s 16th-minute goal had canceled out Vincent’s 3rd-minute opener. In the return leg in Enugu, Rangers won 2-0 with goals from Chiedozie Okorie and Godwin Obaje.

Since the 2011 season, both sides have met fifteen times, with each team winning seven times, while one game ended in a draw.

A notable feature of this fixture is the presence of players and coaches who have previously represented the opposing team, with coach Fidelis Ilechukwu leading Silas Nenrot, Austin Opara, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, and Kazeem Ogunleye against former Rangers players Anthony Ebuka, Samuel Pam, and Olawale Doyeni, now under coach Mbwas Mangut.

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 11: Plateau United beatable in Jos, says Rangers' boss

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