- Rangers struggled to break down a resilient El Kanemi side, despite being defending champions
- Japhet Opubo made several crucial saves to keep Rangers in the match
- Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu acknowledged the challenges of defending their title
Enugu Rangers were held to a frustrating goalless draw by El Kanemi Warriors in their Nigeria Premier Football League opener at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Saturday.
Despite their recent triumph as league champions just 68 days prior, the Flying Antelopes struggled to break down a resilient El Kanemi side, who recently won the President Federation Cup.
Both teams created chances throughout the match but were ultimately unable to find the back of the net. The newly promoted El Kanemi Warriors, showing no signs of nerves, dominated parts of the game and forced Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo into several crucial saves to keep his team level.
Opubo's standout moment came when he denied El Kanemi a clear goal-scoring opportunity, preserving the draw for the home side. Rangers, who are aiming to defend their title this season, will need to find their form quickly if they hope to secure back-to-back championships, a feat not achieved since Kano Pillars’ three-peat from 2012 to 2014.
Speaking before the match, Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “We will be competing on three fronts, so what I will say is that we will do well. We have to start building a team that will stand the test of time.” El Kanemi, on the other hand, will see this result as a promising start to their return to the NPFL after a season in the Nigeria National League.
Their coach, Aliyu Zubairu, had vowed to give Rangers “a good fight,” and his team delivered on that promise.
Rangers will however face the challenge of balancing their domestic ambitions with their CAF Champions League campaign, where they are set to take on Angolan club Sagrade Esprança in the final round of the preliminary stage later this month.
This opening match has not set the stage for an intriguing NPFL season, with both teams having much more to prove despite the draw as the competition progresses.
This was the only fixture of the opening weekend. The other nine matches of the first round are set to take place next weekend, with the NPFL fulfilling their promise to start the new season this Saturday.
NPFL week 1 fixtures
All matchday 1 fixtures include:
Saturday, August 31: Rangers vs. El-Kanemi Warriors
Saturday, September 7:
Beyond Limits vs. Enyimba
Lobi Stars vs. Akwa Utd
Kwara Utd vs. Niger Tornadoes
Bendel Insurance vs. Rivers Utd
Kano Pillars vs. Ikorodu City
Plateau Utd vs. Katsina Utd
Sunday, September 8
Abia Warriors vs. Remo Stars
Sunshine Stars vs. Bayelsa Utd
Nasarawa Utd vs. 3SC
NPFL Spotlight: Rangers FC secures sponsorship deal worth 200 million naira
Previously, TheRadar reported that Enugu Rangers, the reigning NPFL champions, set a new standard in sponsorship deals with a groundbreaking agreement for their sleeve sponsorship ahead of the 2024/2025 season.
This landmark partnership was secured with Nortra Tractors, a prominent name in agricultural machinery and solutions, marking an important milestone for the club.
