Rangers aim for a Double over visiting Akwa United

By NORBERT OKOLIE -With only the bragging rights at stake for both sides in this last match of the 2021/2022 NPFL season scheduled to take place at the Awka City Stadium, the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C will be looking to earn a double over the deposed league champions, Akwa United F.C, ‘The Promise Keepers’.

As directed by the league organizers, the encounter is fixed for Sunday, July 17, 2022, and the kickoff time is 4.00 P.M, coach Abdul Maikaba will be leading his wards into this fixture with their sights set on ending the league season on a good note after some not too impressive second stanza put paid to his set targets.

The vast traveled and experienced gaffer who led the Uyo side to an Aiteo Cup triumph some seasons back will be in the dugout for the Enugu side plotting the fall of his former club for the second time this season after a massive 3-0 demolition job done in Uyo on match day 18.

Maikaba said, ahead of the clash, “Really, this was not our plan and target for this season in the league but we have somehow, found ourselves in this situation when we can’t fight for a continental ticket. However, we shall give our all in this fixture against Akwa United to show that our first-round victory was not a fluke. They are a good side any day but we have our backs against the wall and need a win to end the season.”

Coming into the last league fixture of the season, results from the last six match days did not favor the ‘Flying Antelopes’ as they could only garner two points from a possible eighteen while the visiting side can boast of earning seven points over the same period just as a solitary point separates the former league champions on the twenty team log with Rangers placed 5th and Akwa United, 8th on 53 and 52 points respectively.

Going down memory lane, of the 24 official encounters between the two sides, Rangers enjoy a larger share of victories as they have recorded 10 wins against 5 by the Uyo-based side while nine of the encounters have ended in a draw, so, fans are assured of quality display from both sides even when not much is at stake but the bragging rights.

The quartet of Chidiebere Nwobodo, Ossy Martins, Kenechukwu Agu, and Christian Nnaji will hopefully come to the party with their golden boots to push for the goals as has been since the start of the season that has helped the home side to the thirty-nine goals scored thus far as they come up against a crack defensive side led by Samson Gbadebo, Etim Mathew, Bolu Sholumade and James Ajako under coach Ayodeji Ayeni.

Recall that goal from Samuel Pam, Chidiebere Nwobodo, and Shedrack Asiegbu shattered the ‘Promise Keepers’ dreams inside the ‘Nest of Champions’, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

NORBERT OKOLIE

Media/Communication Officer

Rangers International F.C, Enugu.

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