NPFL: Fidelis Ilechukwu hails ‘improving’ Rangers after silencing Rivers United

By Wale Mustapha

Enugu Rangers’ Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu has described his side’s 1-0 triumph over Rivers United on Wednesday as big feat.

The Flying Antelopes hosted Rivers United in a rescheduled Macthday 11 of Nigeria Premier Football League clash at the refurbished Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu, where the hosts secured the maximum points.

Kazeem Ogunleye’s well struck free-kick from about 30 meters just five minutes into the second stanza turned out to be the match-winner in a pulsating encounter that had morr chances created but had only one converted.

The hosts had their early chances from Kenneth Igboke, Godwin Obaje, and Chidiebere Nwobodo wasted while others were thwarted by their former goalkeeper, Seidu Mutawakilu who kept the margin slim.

Stanley Eguma’s side made a late surge in search of equalizer but Rangers held firm to seal the win and Ilechukwu admits his side were truly deserving of the result, while reiterating their ambition to improve on scoring abilities.

“This win cannot be described as a narrow defeat. When you defeat the only remaining continental team of the country, it can’t be described as a narrow win,” the former MFM manager told media.

“Our opponents have not lost for nearly six matches, but we stopped them today. It is not as if we were at our best today as we failed to take some glaring chances we created, but it showed that are improving.

“However, we thank God for the victory and we keep working on the team to take the club to the level it rightly belongs.”

The victory took Rangers to eighth on the log with 28 points from 19 matches while Rivers United are 14th with 21 points with three games in hand.