Nigerian Football
Rangers, Shooting Stars in Titanic Battle for Points
BY JUBRIL AROWOLO
Some years past, it would have been the match of the day. But how time changes. The Enugu Rangers versus Shooting Stars is almost relegated to the realm of anonymity. Both sides are virtually struggling for recognition this season.
Old football rivalry may just be rekindled as Rangers International FC hosts Shooting Stars FC on Sunday afternoon at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
No one can forget in a hurry, the dramatic end of their first leg clash in Ibadan when Shooting Stars scored a late minute goal to punish the Flying Antelopes who lost a penalty kick in 87′ of the exciting encounter!
This is the background of Sunday’s tie and fans cannot wait to see how it pans out.
The visiting Shooting Stars are hard hit just having 32 points from 27 games played and are dangerously placed in the 18th position.
Right now, the fortunes of these two old club sides in the country are nothing to write home about on the current league log.
As such, the Oluyole Warriors must up the ante and start winning some crucial points on the road to complement recent victorious home runs.
This, the club’s Technical Adviser, Fatai Amoo expressed in a chat with www.3sc.com.ng on Saturday evening after the team’s training session.
“We have to start winning from tomorrow. It’s about making up our minds that other teams are winning away, why are we not? I think it has to do with our psyche!
However, Amoo sees the game as a big battle of old rivals with the belief that it could go either way.
“It’s a battle of two arch rivals and whoever stands up to be counted will win that’s why my players have to raise their game”.
Camp checks reveal a loaded, determined side with experience players in the likes of Ajani Ibrahim, Najeem Olukokun and Nonso Mbakwe and company.
For Rangers FC, it is a game they are not toying with to reaffirm their recent resurgence after a turbulent period that consumed their league winning tactician, Imama Amamakpabo.
With just 35 points from 27 matches in 12th position, they need to put up a spirited fight against the visiting Oluyole rivals who are bent on repeating or surpassing last year’s share of the spoils in a 1-1 score line.
Meanwhile, Rangers Spokesperson, Foster Chime says not this time round will the visitors survive it, as the Flying Antelopes would not loose its guard.
“Shooting Stars should look elsewhere for points. What happened last session will not repeat itself and our players are ready to give a fight”, Foster said.
Enugu Rangers on Sunday beat Plateau United 2-0 to hold on at the top of the Nigeria Premier League. They extended their point haul to 57, two points ahead of their Oriental brothers, Enyimba who also beat Katsina United 1-0 to keep the chase for the title very hot.
Initial second placed team, Remo Stars dropped to the third position but still in contention for either the title, but at worse a continental ticket for next season.
Following Shooting Stars 2-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars in a South West derby, the top four positions of the are now held by the South East and South West as the league gets into its closing stage.
While Rangers and Enyimba are first and second at the moment, Remo Stars, though with an outstanding home game are third while their fellow westerners, Shooting Stars are fourth.
The weekend’s results:
Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes
Doma United 0-0 Kwara United
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland
Enugu Rangers 2-0 Plateau United
Shooting Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Akwa United 3-0 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
Gombe United 3-2 Lobi Stars
Sporting Lagos 4-2 Abia Warriors
Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.
Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.
Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.
They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.
Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.
Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.
It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.
Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75th minute.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers
Defending champions Nigeria have been handed a difficult path to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals after being drawn in the same group as Burkina Faso for next month’s WAFU B qualifying tournament in Ghana.
The Golden Eaglets, who won the last edition of the regional championship in 2022, will also face Togo and Niger in Group B of the competition which runs from 15-28 May.
Hosts Ghana find themselves in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in a tough-looking section of the competition to be played in Accra.
The draw was conducted by 1970s Ivorian football legends Kobenan Kouman and Die Foneye at the Ivorian FA headquarters in Abidjan on Friday.
Nigeria claimed their WAFU B U17 AFCON title by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the regional final in Ghana two years ago.
However, they will need to overcome some familiar foes if they are to defend their crown and with the Burkina Faso finishing third at the last TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, some exciting matches are expected.
Arch-rivals Nigeria and Ghana are among the two favourites and could meet in the final in Accra on 28 May, should they top their respective groups and make it through the semi-finals.
Ghana also have pedigree at this level, having the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 as they bid to reach the U17 AFCON finals on home soil.
The top two teams from the WAFU B tournament will qualify for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Groups:
Group A: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin
Group B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger.
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