Rangers International F.C was at the weekend forced to a scoreless draw by host, Wikki Tourists F.C in a match day 11, NPFL 2021/2022 fixture that happened inside the main bowl of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium, Bauchi.
The host looked the better off the block as the referee signaled start of hostilities inside a capacity filled stadium but the backline of Rangers did well to contain the early onslaught with the duo of David Chimezie and Olawale Doyeni showing the stuff they were made.
On 32 minutes, what would have been the curtain raiser for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ was chopped off by the referee for offside as Christian Nnaji followed up a Samuel Pam’ shot from the edge of the box to nod in the rebound.
Julius Ikechukwu and substitute, Shedrack Asiegbu came close to scoring late in the first half and early in the second but their efforts failed to trouble goalkeeper Galadima Mohammed just as Rangers shotstopper, Ghanaian, Seidu Mutawakilu produced two sublime saves within two minutes to deny the host on 66 and 67 minutes.
Mutawakilu was again called to duty on 90 minutes and he did not disappoint as the game was brought to an end by the referee.
Coach Abdul Maikaba said after the encounter, “It is a wonderful result actually. We are really excited about the result and the way my players went about the match and I hope they keep it up. I believe we scored a very good goal which the referee disallowed for reasons best known to him but we thank God for the one point. It is important to our aspirations for the season.”
With the result, Rangers remain unbeaten in all its six away fixtures for the season and now have seventeen points from eleven matches and seats on the 6th place on the twenty team log.
RANGERS TEAM: Seidu Mutawakilu, Ifeanyi Nweke, Bala Akintunde, Christian Madu, David Chimezie, Olawale Doyeni, Seidu Adamu (Shedrack Asiegbu -6th Min./Tiesso Charles -81st Min.), Samuel Pam, Christian Nnaji (Emeka Obiora -81st Min.), Julius Ikechukwu (Ejike Uzoenyi -66th Min), Chidiebere Nwobodo. SUBS NOT USED: Nana Bonsu, Ernest Governor, Chinonso Eziekwe, Elijah Ani, Philip Clement.
Meanwhile, Enyimba FC of Aba beat Sunshine Stars of Akure by a loan goal to secure maximum points for the Peoples Elephant. Victor Mbaoma gave the Aba side the lead at the 46th cementing their climb on the NPFL table.
