Coming in as defending champions, expectations were high in Enugu for Rangers International FC to begin their title defence on good note but it was not to be as visiting Abia Warriors seized all three points with a 2-1 win right in the Cathedral.
Rangers had looked good, opening scores just 10 minutes on with Fortune Ominiwari but that was all the element they could display for the length of the pulsating encounter in front of a capacity crowd at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Sunday evening.
Ominiwar’s effort was cancelled into the first half when Abia Warriors’ Emeka Isaac’s shoot took a deflection and found Nana Bonsu’s net skaking.
Rangers fought had to recover and go ahead for the rest of the first period but to no avail as the visitors surged in confidence to match them grit for grit, brilliance for brilliance.
Proceedings remained neck to neck far into the second half but the dagger came on the homers when under pressure Chibuzor Madu was flagged down for ball handling in the box and Godwin Zaki stepped forward to slot in and give Abia the winning shot.
The result proves right Rangers Christian Madu who had before the game expressed dread for the new squad of Abia Warriors following their new signings.
Rangers situation was not helped by their dwindle in form just after they lifted the title last season. It was such that Rivers United came to Enugu to cart away the Super 4 title just as an unlikely FC IfeanyiUbah handed them a stunning defeat at the Charity Cup with a few days to the season opener.
Coach Imama Amapakabo had expressed worries at his boys lose of scoring form all through their pre-season trials, a situation which remained just so on the Rangers vs Abia Warriors encounter.
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