By Wale Mustapha
Enugu Rangers’ Head Coach, Ekenedilichukwu Ekeh, has predicted a challenging match for his team as they host Shooting Stars in a crucial Matchday 18 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.
The game, scheduled for 4 pm at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu, will see two of Nigeria’s oldest top-flight teams renew their historic rivalry.
Rangers are on a strong 10-game unbeaten run and will be aiming to extend that streak with a victory, while Shooting Stars, also in fine form with three consecutive wins, will be determined to maintain their momentum.
Coach Ekeh, standing in for Fidelis Ilechukwu who is on national team duty, emphasized that Rangers are well-prepared and motivated for the encounter against the “Oluyole Warriors.”
“We are prepared for a great game against a side that is in rich form under a quality manager,” Ekeh said.
“We expect a difficult match, but we have our eyes set on a good result that will enhance our position in the league. We have what it takes to continue our unbeaten run, and with the crowd coming out in their numbers, we believe it will end with sweet songs on our lips.”
Historically, Rangers have the upper hand in their previous 17 meetings, winning seven times compared to Shooting Stars’ four victories, with six encounters ending in a draw.
Sunday’s match at the ‘Cathedral’ promises to be another exciting chapter in this intense rivalry, with both teams eager to extend their records.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
