Fidelis Ilechukwu exacted sweet revenge on his friend Daniel Ogunmodede, guiding Enugu Rangers to a 2-1 victory over league leaders Remo Stars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in a Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 24 clash.
The weekend’s marquee matchup had a backstory dating back to their first encounter this season, a 2-1 Remo Stars victory that ignited a war of words between the two coaches.
Raymond Tochukwu’s 60th-minute winner was shrouded in controversy, as it stemmed from Remo Stars’ refusal to return the ball to Enugu Rangers after they had put it out of play for an injured player, a perceived breach of fair play.
The result infuriated Ilechukwu, who accused Ogunmodede of resorting to every tactic imaginable, including unsportsmanlike behavior and a win-at-all-costs mentality, to secure three points.
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This contentious first match set the stage for their second encounter. While Rangers sought revenge for what they deemed a controversial loss in Ikenne, Remo aimed to complete a league double over the NPFL champions. However, it was Rangers who ultimately prevailed.
Isaac Saviour’s stunning free-kick from over 25 yards gave Rangers the lead in the 30th minute, sending the Flying Antelopes faithful at the Cathedral into raptures. They extended their lead just four minutes after the restart through Kingsley Maduforo.
Remo Stars pulled one back in the 89th minute through Sikiru Alimi but it was only a consolatory goal as Rangers held on for the maximum points.
Reacting to the victory, Ilechukwu said he is delighted with the maximum points against an opponent of such quality despite the current injury crisis in the team.
“We are happy with the three points. I knew it was going to be a tough game against the league leaders, the best team in Nigeria presently so beating them and breaking their unbeaten run, beating my friend, the assistant coach of the Super Eagles is a big deal,” Ilechukwu told the press after the game.
“We know ourselves already, I told them how important the game was. Remo Stars were on 48 points and we were on 35 points before the game. I told the players that winning this game will help us prove to ourselves not to anybody that we can survive despite our injuries.”
Although they fell short, Remo Stars put in a five-star performance against the defending champions with Ogunmodede throwing a jibe at Ilechukwu’s teams that they played like a team battling relegation.
“It was a good game, I’m happy we were able to give the spectators a good reason for coming to watch the match. It lived up to expectations. Rangers had to fight for their lives. They are the current champions and for you to displace a champion, you have to come in a very big way,” Ogunmodede told the press after the game.
“I salute their courage, they worked so hard like a relegation-battling team,” he joked. “Every other situation that happens on the field is a normal thing in football. We had our fair chances and we didn’t take them, they got their chances and took them which gave them a lot of confidence and helped them secure the game.”
This victory propels the Flying Antelopes into third place, overtaking Rivers United and leaving them 10 points behind league leaders Remo Stars in the increasingly fierce battle for the 2024/25 NPFL title.
According to OptaNGR, this was the tenth meeting between the two sides since Remo Stars’ establishment. Rangers hold the head-to-head advantage with four wins to Remo Stars’ three, with three matches ending in a draw.
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