‘It was a painful loss’ – Abdu Maikaba reflects on Rangers’ defeat at Wikki Tourists 

By Wale Mustapha

Technical Adviser of Enugu Rangers, Abdu Maikaba is livid over how side lost 1-0 in a Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL clash to Wikki Tourists in Bauchi on Sunday.

Rangers came into the game on the back of three-game unbeaten and were expected to compound the woes of Wikki but things did not go as planned for the Enugu based side at Pantami Stadium.

The seven-time league champions were the second-best in the first stanza that was well dominated by Wikki who created more scoring opportunities but were denied by Emeka Nwabulu who was at his best in goal for Rangers.

Nwabulu could do little to stop Abubakar Aliyu from getting what turned out to be the match-winner before Rangers could upped their ante in search for a level Austin Onyemaechi fluffed the opportunity in the closing stage.

Following the loss, Maikaba who admitted that Wikki played better in the first half, said Rangers could have shared the spoils with their improved second half approach.

“Wikki played a fantastic first half and they deserve their goal in that half of the game but, my players woke up from their slumber in the second half and did play well, all could see the clear penalty call which the referee failed to spot,” the former Akwa United coach lamented

“It was a painful loss because we deserve better from the match, but we had to go back home and prepare for our next match, I believe the time will be enough for us to prepare well for a convincing win.”

Rangers remains seventh on the log after six rounds of matches with five points scoring two goals and leaking five going into Matchday Seven against Doma United.