ENUGU Rangers were held to a goalless draw by El Kanemi Warriors in their Nigeria Premier Football League opener at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Saturday.
The Flying Antelopes, who clinched their eighth league title just 68 days before the clash, found themselves frustrated by a resilient President Federation Cup winner in front of their home fans.
The match saw both teams creating chances but ultimately failing to find the back of the net.
El Kanemi, a newly promoted side, showed no signs of intimidation facing the Nigerian champions. In fact, they appeared to be the more dominant team for stretches of the game, forcing Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo into making several crucial saves to keep his side in the contest.
Opubo’s heroics were particularly evident in denying the visitors a clear-cut opportunity after they had broken through the Rangers defence. His timely intervention saved the blushes of the home team and ensured they earned a point.
The match was a test of Rangers’ mettle as they aim to become the first team in a decade to clinch back-to-back NPFL titles, a feat last achieved by Kano Pillars between 2012 and 2014. However, their performance on the day suggested that the task would be a tall order.
Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, speaking before the match, acknowledged the enormity of the challenge facing his team this season.
“We will be competing on three fronts, so what I will say is that we will do well. We have to start building a team that will stand the test of time,” he said.
For El Kanemi, this result will be seen as a positive start to life back in the top flight after spending a season in the Nigeria National League. Their coach, Aliyu Zubairu, had promised to give Rangers “a good fight,” and his team certainly delivered on that promise.
The match, broadcast live on StarTimes, the league’s official broadcast partner, was the only fixture of the opening weekend. The remaining nine matches of the first round are scheduled for next weekend, as the league organisers made good their promise to kick off the new season this Saturday.
This result sets the tone for what promises to be an intriguing NPFL season. Rangers will need to quickly find their rhythm if they are to mount a successful title defence, while El Kanemi have laid down a marker as more than mere participants in their return to the top flight.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on how both teams build on this opening day’s performance. For Rangers, the challenge will be to balance their domestic ambitions with their CAF Champions League campaign, where they face Angolan club Sagrade Espranca in the final round of the preliminary stage.
El Kanemi, meanwhile, will look to use this result as a springboard for a successful season, aiming to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the NPFL while also harbouring the ambition of retaining the Federation Cup title.