2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 7: Super Eagles captain Musa supervises Kano Pillars win over Rangers International FC in Enugu

Posted : 18 October 2024

It was a first-period performance by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) reigning champions, Rangers International FC, that is better forgotten as they surrendered the maximum points at stake to an Ahmed Musa-inspired Kano Pillars FC in a seven-goal thriller inside Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, in a Match Day 7 fixture of the NPFL 2024/2025 season, with the encounter ending 3-4 in favor of the visitors.

The home side’s technical crew started with the squad that lost by a lone goal at the weekend, featuring the quartet of Japhet Opubo, Ikenna Stephen, Agu Kenechukwu, and Anayor Ogbonna in the starting team.

However, it was the visitors, led by legendary Rabiu Ali and former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, along with national teammate Shehu Abdullahi, who found their rhythm the quickest in the encounter.

Two penalty kicks, neatly converted by Rabiu Ali in the 18th and 41st minutes after the referee spotted a handball incident and a tripping incident, along with a cool finish by Zulkifilu Muhammad in the 29th minute from a cross by Ahmed Musa, and a sublime goal by the immediate past Super Eagles captain in the 45+2 minute, gave the visitors a commanding 0-4 lead going into the break.

However, a quartet of substitutions from the coaching crew of the ‘Flying Antelopes’—Hillary Ekawu, Anayor Ogbonna, Ikenna Stephen, and Chiedozie Okorie—were replaced by Saviour Isaac, Frank Uwumiro, Silas Nenrot, and Effimi Nsi, which turned the tide towards the home side as Saviour Isaac fired home in the 46th and 58th minutes to halve the deficit, while Silas Nenrot slotted home another in the 90th minute after being set up by Frank Uwumiro.

However, there was no opportunity for the Enugu side to repeat another comeback win, as was the case in the Aiteo Cup final in Asaba in 2018, even though Kazeem Ogunleye and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi hit the upright and crossbar in quick succession.

Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, in a post-match chat, said, “Yes, in football, these things happen. We are not happy.

"I am not happy as well, but this is one of the things that happen in the game of football.

"I think Kano Pillars was better in the first half. Although I was not around during that time, I believe we did better in the second half, breaking the jinx of only scoring one goal per match since the start of the season.

"Today, we scored three, and it’s a sign that there is hope for the team. We have to take this small advantage of converting chances into our next game.

"We apologize to our fans who came out in the rain today to cheer us despite the result of the game. We shall make it up to them.”

Rangers are on 10 points from seven matches and will next travel to Uyo to face Akwa United in a Match Day 8 encounter at the weekend.

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 7: Super Eagles captain Musa supervises Kano Pillars win over Rangers International FC in Enugu

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