2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 1: Reigning Champions, Rangers International FC, target perfect start for title defense

Posted : 30 August 2024

The reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International FC, under the tutelage of coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, are now looking ahead to the beginning of their title defense, with the 2024/2025 league fully set to kick off with the visit of President Federation Cup champions, El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri, who recently crashed out of the second tier of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025.

The opening day fixture, hosted at ‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Saturday, Aug. 31, will replicate the title-winning match for the Enugu side in the 2015/2016 season, where the ‘Antelopes’ soared over the ‘Warriors’ with four unanswered goals in a packed stadium on Oct. 2.

Having secured the services of some quality players to replace those who departed from the trophy-winning squad, Coach Ilechukwu and his trusted assistants are looking to ensure that the new season starts on a high note, despite expecting stiff resistance from the Maiduguri side, which recently gained promotion from the NNL and won the oldest club competition to earn a ticket to represent the country on the continent.

The arrival of players such as Tekena Garando, Ekeson Okorie, Evans Ogbonda, Hillary Ekawu, Ernest Governor, Okafor Onyekachi, Bashir Usman, Lucky Abdullahi, Chikeluba Ofoedu, Effimi Nsi, Igwilo Chimobi, Williams Wonah, Oforkansi Michael, Ogbonna Anayor, Daniel Onyia, and many others, to join forces with the reliable Opubo Japhet, Ugwueze Chinemerem, Opara Austin, Onyebuchi Ifeanyi, Isaac Saviour, Ugochukwu Ejike, Agu Kenechukwu, Kenneth Igboke, Kazeem Ogunleye, Chiedozie Okorie, Stephen Ikenna, Odoh Joel, and more, assures Rangers fans of a quality display during Saturday's encounter.

Captain of the Coal City side, Ugwueze Chinemerem, ahead of the game, said that the team is prepared to start the new season on a high note with the visit of their opponents from Maiduguri.

“I expect a very tough challenge from El-Kanemi, but with what we have been doing since our qualification for the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, I see determination, passion, and motivation to get a good result and set us on the right track for a successful title defense.

“We won the title with a young team, and this season, we are competing with an even younger team that is highly motivated to repeat last season's feat. It will be a tough encounter, largely because our opponents were recently eliminated from the continent and will try to unsettle us, but we are prepared for them, and by God’s grace, we shall celebrate at the end of the match.”

Goalkeeper and one of the squad’s deputy captains, Opubo Japhet, who had two assists and twelve clean sheets last season, is optimistic about starting their title defense on a bright note against the ‘Invading Warriors’ from Maiduguri.

“I will say a big thanks to God for last season's success, and as we start the new season against El-Kanemi Warriors, I am very optimistic going into the match with the quality of players we have in our squad. There are no more underdogs in football, so we expect an open game, but we are going for the maximum points.”

The visitors, under coach Aliu Zubairu, are already in Coal City, having arrived on Thursday and had a feel of the playing turf of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for the only Match Day 1 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League 2024/2025, with the other fixtures taking place between September 6-7, 2024.

Head to head
Since 2016, Enugu Rangers and El-Kanemi Warriors have played a total of 4 matches, with Enugu Rangers winning 3 and the other 2 ending in draws.

Enugu Rangers - El-Kanemi Warriors (11.02.2018) 1:0
El-Kanemi Warriors - Enugu Rangers (07.06.2017) 1:1
Enugu Rangers - El-Kanemi Warriors (22.01.2017) 1:0
Enugu Rangers - El-Kanemi Warriors (02.10.2016) 4:0

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 1: Reigning Champions, Rangers International FC, target perfect start for title defense

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