Rangers International battled Enyimba to a goalless draw in Aba during one of the NPFL Matchday 15 fixtures, a result that ensured the Coal City Flying Antelopes retained their 4th position on the league standings, Completesports.com reports.
The draw extended Rangers’ unbeaten run in the 2024/2025 domestic top-flight campaign to eight matches.
Ekenedilichukwu Eke, Rangers’ Assistant Coach, who addressed the media in the absence of head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, expressed satisfaction with his team’s form.
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“This is our eighth game unbeaten. It’s a motivation for the boys to do even better in upcoming games,” Ekeh said.
Ekenedilichukwu Ekeh
“We’ll leave here (Aba) tomorrow to prepare for our next match against Rivers United. So, this result we got this evening is fantastic for us.”
The Oriental Derby ended with both clubs, who have a combined 16 NPFL titles, sharing the spoils in an intense contest.
Assessing the match, Ekeh added: “I can say this is a fantastic result for us, coming all the way from Enugu to Aba to secure a point. It wasn’t an easy game at all. From start to finish, it was intense and highly competitive. I give credit to both teams, but more to my players—they performed wonderfully well. It’s a good result for us.”
The assistant coach also commended Enyimba, the two-time African champions, for their performance.
“I rate them highly. The game was high-tempo from start to finish, showcasing professionalism from both sides. Kudos to the officials as well—it wasn’t an easy game to manage.”
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Looking ahead to their next match against league leaders Rivers United, Ekeh noted the importance of preparation.
“We treat each game as it comes. The way we prepared for this match against Enyimba is how we’ll prepare for Rivers United. It’s still just another game, and we’re always ready to face any opposition because we’ve committed to this league campaign,” he said.
When asked if luck played a role in their draw, the tactician dismissed the notion.
“I wouldn’t say we were lucky. We prepared very well for this journey. Our aim was to take all three points, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. We’ll take the point and move on,” Ekeh concluded.
By Sab Osuji
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