NPFL: Abia Warriors lose mid-week Oriental Derby to Rangers International

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Abia Warriors’ two-game winning run has come to an end after they lost the Oriental Derby 0-2 to Rangers International in a mid-week clash at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Wednesday.

Warrior, who had won five of their last seven head-to-head NPFL meetings with Rangers (W5 L2), thought they could repeat that form away from home but first half goals from Chidozie Iwundu and Godwin Obaje decided the match.

Rangers welcomed their neighbors on the back of a home win during the weekend and wasted no time applying pressure in the early minutes of the game.

This pressure paid off when a corner kick in the 14th minute met the head of Iwundu for the opener. Nineteen minutes later Obaje also found the back of the net to give coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side the lead heading into the break.

The second half was met by a balanced affair with both sides canceling each other out to end the match in favour of Rangers International.

Meanwhile the other mid-week match on Wednesday saw Kano Pillars edge Kwara United 1-0 through a goal from Rabiu Ali to move out of the relegation zone.

With the mid-week games over, Enugu Rangers are now 5th on the log while Abia Warriors are above them in 4th place. Also, Kano Pillars are now 16th with Kwara United in 13th position.