AITEO CUP FINAL: MIRACULOUSLY, IT’S RANGERS! BREAKING PENALTY JINX

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

It is a final match to be remembered for a long time to come. It is going to be one of the biggest come-back in the history of Nigerian football.

Stephen Keshi Stadium staging its first football match, the Aiteo Cup final has something that will go into eternal memory as Rangers became the first winner of a match and trophy at the stadium.

Winning is just an aspect of the story. The manner the victory came was a bigger story.

Reminiscence of the 1954 final when Kano fought back from three goals down against Calabar before eventually losing 3-4, a similar scenario was almost created in Asaba on Wednesday night with Rangers also coming from three goals down.

The Enugu boys eventually won 4-2 via penalty shoot-out in one of the most dramatic final matches in Nigeria. Rangers were three goals down for 75 minutes before they make a dramatic comeback in the last 15 minutes.

They eventually won on penalties, an act they have failed in three previous final matches. Rangers will represent Nigeria in the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup.