By Wale Mustapha
Technical Adviser of Heartland FC, Emmanuel Amuneke, has revealed the tactical discipline and self-belief that propelled his side to a shock 2-0 victory over Enugu Rangers in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 33 clash on Sunday.
The Naze Millionaires stunned the reigning champions at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, thanks to goals from Suraju Lawal and Isaac Nassy, securing a vital three points in their fight to avoid relegation.
Speaking after the match, Amuneke praised his players for executing the pre-match strategy and showing the mental strength to overcome a formidable opponent on their home turf.
“I think the important thing is that we’ve come to believe in what we’re doing,” Amuneke told Heartland media.
“We’ve been creating chances in recent games but haven’t always converted. Today, against a team with the pedigree of Rangers, it was crucial to take our chances—and we did.”
The victory lifts Heartland to 15th place on the NPFL table with 41 points, providing a much-needed boost in their relegation battle. They will host Kwara United in their next fixture this weekend in Owerri.
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.
