High flying Rangers International F.C, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ will on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at their adopted F.C.I.U stadium, Nnewi, try to put a stop to second placed, Remo Stars F.C’ run of seven matches without a loss as it aims to occupy the prime position on the log in a match day 8 fixture.
Norbert Okoli, media officer of the club said in a statement that after the demolition job done to Oriental brothers, Heartland on Friday in Owerri, the coach Abdul Maikaba tutored side will need to further up their game against a side coached by its former gaffer, Olugbenga Ogunbote.
With seventeen points from seven matches played in the season, Remo Stars will be banking on such players like experienced, Dayo Ojo, Andy Okpe, Qudus Akanni, Abdullahi Oyedele, Olamilekan Adedayo, Adekunle Oyedele, Morgan Agbeko, Samuel Anakwe, Ifeagwu Ojukwu, Stanley Okorom, Emmanuel Daniel, Kayode Bankole, and a host of others to try and counter the squad that will be lined up by coach Maikaba.
Fans are assured of quality display from both sides who have gotten two wins on the road this season scoring wonderful goals in the process.
Captain of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Tope Olusesi said ahead of the clash, “It is going to be a very difficult game because the coach of Remo was our former coach and he knows some of the players but we all know that no two games are alike. So, we are approaching the game as a cup final and give our all to snatch all the points at stake for us to be on top of the log.”
There haven’t been too many matches between both teams as the visiting side spent two seasons in its last sojourn in top flight football in which Rangers earned a 2-1 win in Sagamu and a 1-1 draw in Enugu in the 2017/2018 season and a 5-2 win in Enugu and a 0-0 draw in Sagamu in the 2018/2019 season, ironically, coach Ogunbote was in charge of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ that season.
Coach Abdul Maikaba of Rangers who is not new to the league having led such top sides as Akwa United, Plateau United, Wikki Tourists, Enyimba International and others have quality squad to make his selection so as to annex all three points at stake towards realizing his set target for the season.
Bamidele Adeniyi is expected to continue his brilliance between the sticks with the coverage from the backline led by captain, Tope Olusesi and Bala Akintunde just as Ugochukwu Ugwuoke, Ejike Uzoenyi and Shedrack Asiegbu will most likely anchor the middle of the pack to supply the ammunition for the attackers to deliver the goods.
The form of both sides in the last five match days run thus; Rangers: W, W, D, W, D while the boys from Ikene, Ogun state is: W, W, W, D, D.
The match will no doubt spill from the men on the pitch to those on the bench as coach Abdul Maikaba said, “I expect a great match from our opponent led by my friend, coach Gbenga Ogunbote. They will play their game but we shall have our win to steady our charge for the top of the league. Thankfully, we don’t have injury worries going into this game and the players are motivated to get the job done.”
