Ilechukwu leads Enugu Rangers to eighth NPFL title

Enugu Rangers have won the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League with one game to spare after beating Bendel Insurance 2-0 in their final home game of the season at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.

The Flying Antelopes’ eighth league title and first since 2016 was sealed thanks to the losses of their challengers Remo Stars and Enyimba in other match-day 37 fixtures against Sunshine Stars and Sporting Lagos respectively.

Remo Stars were beaten 2-1 in Akure by Sunshine Stars while a late goal Enyimba also fell 2-1 to relegation-threatened Sporting Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

Going into the match-day 37 game with a two-point lead, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men took control of their destiny against Insurance as quickly as possible with Kenechukwu Agu opening the scoring in the 33rd minute.

Chidiebere Nwobodo doubled their advantage in the 65th minute but their confirmation as winners was almost being dragged to the final day as Remo and Enyimba, who had gone down by a goal each in their respective games both equalised.

A draw for either Remo or would have left them in contention for the title, but their chances were blown by two late goals.

In Akure, after Ahmed Akinyele had cancelled out Chinedu Nwosu’s opener for Sunshine, the 17-year-old turned up again in the 80th minute to dash the Ikenne side’s hope and get Sunshine their first win over them in six matches.

At the Mobolaji Johnson arena, Enyimba needed all three points and despite Chijioke Mbaoma scoring from the spot to cancel out Godwin Odibo’s opener for the hosts, Jonathan Alukwu was the hero, scoring a much-needed winner for Sporting which also left their survival chances hanging in the balance.

Thanks to their win over Bendel Insurance and their challengers’ defeats, Ilechukwu guided Rangers to an unassailable five-point lead with 67 points, going into their last game of the season against Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium next week.

‘The Working One’ as Ilechukwu is fondly called had previously worked with the defunct MFM FC, Heartland and Plateau United before joining Rangers at the start of the season.

After missing out on the title, Remo Stars, Enyimba and fourth-placed Shooting Stars are still in a thrilling race for the two other continental tickets via the league.

While the battle for that on match-day 38, Rangers will have a dead-rubber date against relegated Gombe United before their coronation at the Pantami Stadium.

Founded in 1970, Rangers have previously won the NPFL title seven times; 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 2016.

Only Enyimba, who won the league for a record ninth time last season have more titles than the Flying Antelopes.