After a nail-biting loss in their first match at its adopted, F.C Ifeanyiubah Stadium, Nnewi, to rivals, Enyimba and a soul-lifting draw on the road at Ijebu-Ode, midweek, the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers look set to annex the points at stake as Niger Tornadoes come visiting on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
It will be the matchday 4, NPFL 2021/2022 season as the returning ‘Ikon Allah’ boys smarting from a 1-1 draw at their adopted home of Ilorin to Abia Warriors will be looking for where to make up for lost ground but Rangers gaffer, Abdul Maikaba, have a rich squad to pick his ‘Killer squad’ to defuse the invading ‘Tornadoes’.
With four points from the available nine, coach Maikaba hopes to see a much-improved performance from his wards with the expected return to duty of the duo of skipper, Tope Olusesi and attacking sensation, Elijah Ani while trusting the backline anchored around Bala Akintunde, Ebuka Anthony, and Ernest Governor to handle the threats from Usule Martins, Destiny Ashadi, Ahmadu Liman and Kabiru Adeniji for the visiting coach Bala Mohammed led side.
Coach Maikaba, in a chat, said, “Tornadoes F.C is a good side but I believe we have what it takes to get a much-desired victory for us. We have been playing well in our games but with a little more determination and luck, victory is sure.”
The last time out for both teams in 2019, saw the ‘Flying Antelopes’ secure a 1-0 victory over the Minna based side in Enugu while the reverse fixture inside Bako Kotangora stadium, Minna, ended on a goalless note but with the return of Niger Tornadoes to the top-flight league after beating other teams to emerge champions of the NNL, they have made their presence count in their last three fixtures winning one, losing one and drew one.
Defense lynchpin, Ernest Governor, said after his side’s training session, Friday, “We are well motivated to fight for all three points on Sunday against Tornadoes. We are on the same number of points in the league and we want to ensure that we move up the league table so as to realize our target at the end of the season.”
Ugochukwu Ugwuoke, the midfield maestro of Rangers who has dazzled since the start of the season, said, “We are good to go and Tornadoes will not stand on our way towards picking the three points. Let our fans come out in their numbers to cheer us to victory on Sunday in Nnewi.”
