Sunday, June 9 will witness an epic clash in the 2023/2024 StarTimes/NPFL season as two of the league’s most storied club sides, Enugu Rangers and Enyimba FC of Aba trade tackles in a potentially explosive week 35 match that is tagged as a title deciding fixture.
Although Rangers are currently leading the table with 61 points, Enyimba are hot on their heels with 59 points and the title holders who have two points deducted from their haul may be level on points with Rangers if they win their appeal.
It will be recalled that the defending champions were deducted two points following the disruption of their second round match against Doma United in Aba.
Tomorrow’s crunch tie famously tagged ‘Oriental Derby’ to be played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu will to a large extent determine who between the two regional rivals will lift the coveted trophy at the end of the season.
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Undoubtedly, the rivalry between these two football powerhouses is rich and tough. Enugu Rangers, affectionately known as the “Flying Antelopes,” have been a dominant force in Nigerian football since 1970 when the club was floated.
Apart from a continental trophy which they won in 1977, Rangers have clinched seven league titles and six FA Cups to rank among the most successful clubs in Nigerian football.
On their part, Enyimba which came into existence in 1976 is inarguably the most successful club in Nigeria having won two Champions League trophies, nine league titles and four FA Cup trophies. Enyimba is the only Nigerian club that has won the prestigious Champions League.
Head-to-head, the two historic clubs have so far faced each other 29 times with Enyimba having more victories than their ‘Oriental brothers’. The ‘Peoples Elephants’ have won 14 times against Rangers’ nine while six matches ended in draws.
After tomorrow’s week 35 fixtures, only three matches will be left to conclude the season and the scenario that played out recently in the English Premier League (EPL) between Manchester City and Arsenal may be witnessed in the 2024 StarTimes/NPFL season. One of the two clubs will pursue the other to the finish line.
A look at the remaining fixtures for both clubs shows that Enyimba have one away match against relegation-threatened Sporting FC Lagos and two home matches against Bayelsa United and Plateau United which is their final match of the season.
Unlike Enyimba, Rangers have two away matches against continental chasing 3SC Ibadan and already relegated side, Gombe United while their only home match after tomorrow’s tie with Enyimba is the week 37 clash with Bendel Insurance.
Although Enyimba may feel lucky that they will be playing the final match at home, Enugu Rangers will also fancy their chances of picking the maximum points at already relegated Gombe United in their last match.
But before they shift attention to the remaining three matches, both teams must deal with the immediate concern which is the week 35 match that offers each of them the opportunity to win the league.
Tomorrow, Rangers will fight to win to consolidate their position on top while Enyimba are eying the maximum points to topple the league leaders.
Without a doubt, Enyimba have their work cut out as they face the highly motivated ‘Antelopes’ that haven’t lost any of their eight home matches and are undefeated in their last three games. However, Enyimba also are undefeated in their last five games which include their last two away matches.
While Enugu Rangers vs Enyimba ‘Oriental derby’ holds the key to the title, Remo Stars in third place with the same number of points as Enyimba are hoping to capitalise on any slip-up by the two frontrunners.
A draw in tomorrow’s Southeast derby could propel Remo Stars to the top, provided they secure a victory in their away match against Lobi Stars- which is a big possibility going by the fact that their hosts have been on a free-fall recently.
Interestingly, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has thrown his support behind Rangers to beat Enyimba to tighten their grip on the top spot.
In a motivational message to the players, the governor said “Our dear Rangers Int’l, so far, you have played energetically, maintaining the top spot with grit and tenacity. I’m super proud of you and wish you best of luck against Enyimba this weekend.”
Also, speaking after their important 0-0 draw against Sporting in Enugu, Rangers coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, said Enyimba must fall in Enugu for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ to achieve their primary objective of winning the league title.
He said “We are going back to Enugu to strategize for our next game which is against Enyimba and we expect to be at our best to get the result we desire.”
However, Enyimba head coach, Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju has said getting the results is all that matters while warning that the ‘Peoples Elephants’ are going for the maximum points.
Olarewaju described the week 35 fixture as “a tough game, league decider if you ask me. Rangers look like the favourites but we will fight till the end.”
He admitted to not having much knowledge of the opponents saying, “I don’t think I know them much. The way they started the season is not the way they are playing now and the formation is also different with personnel.”
This lack of deep knowledge of the Enyimba team coupled with their inability to defeat the ‘Flying Antelopes’ in Aba is not something the coach is worried about.
The stage is now set for one of the biggest fixtures in the Nigerian league and the enthusiastic fans from the city of Aba are pouring into the coal city in anticipation of victory that will hand them the bragging rights over their neighbours who won their last NPFL title in 2016.
So, considering Rangers’ hunger for the now elusive crown, Enyimba as the defending champions, must do something extraordinary to spoil the ‘Flying Antelopes’ party. They will be banking on their talismanic striker, Chijioke Mbaoma to wreck havoc in Enugu.
In other week 35 fixtures, Plateau United will host Kwara United, relegated Gombe United travel to face Katsina United, Heartland battle fellow relegation-threatened side, Doma United in Owerri, Tornadoes visit Kano Pillars while 3SC travel to Port-Harcourt to engage Rivers United.
The remaining matches will see Sunshine Stars battling Akwa United in Akure, Sporting Lagos visit Bayelsa United, Lobi Stars entertain title clashing Remo Stars in Lafia, just as Bendel Insurance take a long trip to Umuahia to trade tackles with Abia Warriors.
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