With Godwin Obaje still searching for his next goal, it was Rangers’ defenders who delivered the Oriental Derby winner, and coach Fidelis Ilechukwu says that is exactly what a well-coached team produces.
Rangers International coach Fidelis Ilechukwu was effusive in his praise for the team’s defensive contributions after the Flying Antelopes came from behind to beat Enyimba 2-1 in the Matchday 35 Oriental Derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu. The result pushed Rangers back to the top of the NPFL table with 59 points, three clear of their nearest challengers, with just three rounds of fixtures remaining before the end of the campaign.
The match turned on a comeback after Enyimba’s Wonah Williams had put the visitors ahead four minutes after the restart. Rangers levelled through Chidozie Iwundu just after the hour mark, and then Ifeanyi Onyebuchi headed home the winner in the 68th minute following a defensive mix-up in Enyimba’s box. With top scorer Godwin Obaje failing to add to his tally, it was the defenders who saved Rangers’ title push. Fans following the NPFL title race can check the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code ahead of the final three matchdays.
Ilechukwu on the Value of Goal-Scoring Defenders
Ilechukwu was direct about how he approaches the issue of scoring options. “We are a scoring team. You must train your players to have many ways of scoring,” he said. “If you depend only on strikers, it becomes difficult. But when defenders score from corners or set-pieces it is a big advantage.” His comments reflect a coaching philosophy built on collective responsibility, where no outfield player is exempt from understanding how to threaten the opposition at set-pieces.
The Rangers coach also spoke about his mindset heading into the match. “As a coach, I prepare for everything. When you make a mistake in football, you get punished,” Ilechukwu said. “We prepared in different ways, different methods, and we came with the mentality that we would win.” He added that he had an inner conviction that Rangers would not go three consecutive games without a win, drawing on a mental resolve that his squad clearly carried onto the pitch. Bettors looking to back Rangers in their final three fixtures can get started with the Bet9ja sign-up bonus for new accounts.
Rangers Eye a Ninth NPFL Title With Humility
Ilechukwu was careful not to allow the victory to breed complacency. Despite leading the table with three games to play, the former Plateau United coach emphasized that his squad remains grounded. “We are very humble in our games, very, very humble,” he said. That message of restraint is deliberate in a title race that remains genuinely alive, with other clubs still collecting points in parallel. Rangers face Bayelsa United away at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa in their next fixture, a trip that demands the same intensity that delivered the derby win.
A ninth NPFL title would represent Rangers’ most significant domestic achievement since their last championship, and Ilechukwu has the squad in a position where the prize is firmly within reach. The challenge now is converting that position into silverware without allowing the weight of history to become a burden over the final weeks. FootballInNigeria.com.ng will provide full coverage of Rangers’ run-in. New Bet9ja users who want to follow the title race through the final stretch can use Nigeria’s top Bet9ja code to register before the next round of fixtures.
📌 Did You Know?
- Rangers International hold eight NPFL titles, making them one of the most successful clubs in the history of Nigerian domestic football, level with Enyimba and just behind clubs like Shooting Stars on title count.
- Fidelis Ilechukwu previously coached Plateau United to back-to-back NPFL titles, making him one of the most successful coaches currently operating in Nigerian top-flight football.
- The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, which hosted the derby, has a capacity of around 22,000 and served as one of the venues for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria, giving it strong historical roots in Nigerian football.
- Godwin Obaje is Rangers’ top scorer this season and one of the most prolific forwards in the NPFL, but his goal drought heading into the final three matches means other players will need to share the scoring burden if Rangers are to secure the title.
- The Oriental Derby between Rangers and Enyimba has been one of the defining fixtures in NPFL history, with both clubs representing southeast Nigeria and carrying the pride of their respective cities of Enugu and Aba into every meeting.
- The Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, where Rangers play their next match against Bayelsa United, is named after former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football figures who also guided the team to the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship final.
- Rangers’ 2026 title run comes after Remo Stars won the NPFL for the first time in their history in the 2024/2025 season, breaking a period of dominance by established clubs and demonstrating that the league title is more genuinely contested than in previous years.
