Enyimba overpower Rangers in Enugu thriller
Enyimba once again stamped their authority in the oriental derby, edging out arch-rivals Enugu Rangers 2-1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on an emotional Sunday evening dedicated to the memory of Nigerian football icon, Christian Chukwu.
In a pulsating encounter that lived up to its billing, first-half goals from Innocent Gabriel and Ekene Awazie proved decisive for the People’s Elephant, who were ruthless early on and resilient late, holding off a resurgent Rangers side desperate for a comeback.
Straight from kickoff, Enyimba showed their intent. Innocent Gabriel, after an early scare involving a nasty clash with the Rangers goalkeeper, returned to the pitch like a man on a mission — and announced his comeback in style. He rifled home a thunderous free-kick from 35 yards, leaving the stadium stunned in the 21st minute.
Before the home side could recover, Enyimba struck again. Midfield livewire Quadri Olusokanmi, whose performance was a thorn in the flesh of Rangers all evening, floated a delightful pass to Ekene Awazie, who made no mistake with a composed volley to double the lead just six minutes later.
Though Chiedozie Okorie pulled one back for Rangers midway through the second half, it was too little, too late for the Flying Antelopes. Despite Rangers dominating the latter stages, Stanley Eguma’s men stood firm to secure three points.
Reflecting on the fiery derby, Eguma hailed his team’s character and execution, describing the match as a classic “game of two halves.”
“We came with our game plan just like in every game. It was a big game between two best sides from the South East,” Eguma told reporters. “We played the first half, took our chances, and got our goals. They took over in the second half and reduced the tally, but I must commend my players for holding firm.”
The win keeps Enyimba firmly in the hunt for a continental ticket as the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season winds down. Eguma emphasized the critical nature of the victory for their campaign.
“The victory here is a move forward. Every point is very important irrespective of where you are playing,” he said. “We will continue to give our best, hoping to gather enough points to finish well and hopefully clinch a continental ticket.”
Sunday’s clash was not just about points and pride. In a touching gesture before kickoff, Enyimba players and officials emerged wearing white T-shirts bearing the message: “Enyimba FC Mourns Ex-Legend, Christian Chukwu”, paying tribute to the man who led Rangers and the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles) to historic triumphs as captain and coach.
Next up, the People’s Elephant will return home to the Enyimba Stadium to face Kwara United on Wednesday, in a crucial encounter as the race to the finish line gathers pace.