By SCM Sports Writer in Katsina
KATSINA, NIGERIA – Newly promoted Barau FC delivered a stunning performance to hand six-time Nigerian champions Enugu Rangers International a comprehensive 2-0 defeat in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter.
The match, which took place at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina—a ground adopted by Rangers for their home games this season—was expected to see the Flying Antelopes dominate, but instead, the “Maliya Boys” from Kano stole the show.
The venue, more than 300 kilometres north of Rangers’ traditional ‘Cathedral’ home in Enugu, has often been a contentious point among the club’s faithful.
Yesterday, it became the scene of a major upset as Barau, playing their first-ever top-flight season, proved to be far more comfortable on the neutral turf than their illustrious opponents.
The deadlock was broken just 25 minutes in when the in-form Mohammed M. Umar found the back of the net, silencing the pockets of traveling Rangers supporters and the neutrals in the stadium.
Despite sustained pressure from Rangers, who struggled to adapt to the firm surface and intense atmosphere, the score remained 1-0 until the final quarter of the game.
The crucial second goal, which sealed the three points for the visitors, came in the 72nd minute from substitute Joseph Kemin, who pounced on a defensive lapse to slot home.
The goal visibly deflated the Enugu side, who could find no answer to the determined defending and rapid counter-attacks of Barau FC.
For Barau, whose rise to the NPFL has been one of the division’s biggest stories, the victory provides a massive boost as they fight to climb out of the relegation zone.
For Rangers, the defeat at their temporary home is a bitter pill to swallow, raising serious questions about their title aspirations and the true cost of playing their “home” fixtures hundreds of miles away from their traditional stronghold.
Barau FC Head Coach, Rabi’u Tala, was ecstatic, stating: “We felt at home here. The pitch suits our style, and the result is a testament to the character of my boys. We came to Katsina to work, and we delivered a capital performance.”
The result sees Barau FC climb three places in the table, while Enugu Rangers International will need to regroup quickly if they are to maintain their chase for a continental spot.
