By Our Man in Enugu
THE “FLYING ANTELOPES” didn’t just win yesterday; they soared. In a brutal display of attacking intent at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu Rangers left title rivals Remo Stars seeing stars after a 4-1 demolition that shook the NPFL to its core.
The “Cathedral” was rocking from the first whistle as the home side turned the heat up on a humid Sunday afternoon.
It took just four minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and it was a moment of pure magic from wing-back Kenneth Igboke. The marauding defender ghosted into the box to fire home a low drive, sending the Enugu faithful into raptures.
Before Remo could even catch their breath, they were two down. Just four minutes after the opener, the returning Chidozie Iwundu capitalized on a defensive lapse to double the advantage.
It was a classic “hit-and-run” start that left the Sky Blue Stars looking like they’d wandered into a lion’s den with nothing but a toothpick.
Remo Stars did manage to find a pulse just before the break when Franck Kingue poked home in first-half stoppage time, briefly suggesting a comeback was on the cards.
But any hopes of a Remo revival were snuffed out after the interval. Rangers’ midfield maestro Wisdom Ebirim restored the two-goal cushion in the 62nd minute, finishing a slick team move that carved the visitors’ defense open like a Sunday roast.
The final insult came deep into stoppage time. Igboke, clearly not content with just one, capped off a Man of the Match performance by bagging his second and Rangers’ fourth in the 94th minute.
The result sees Rangers tighten their grip on the top of the table, moving to 50 points and keeping their continental dreams firmly on track. For Remo Stars, it’s back to the drawing board after a humbling afternoon in the coal city.
Rangers Boss Ekene Kenedilichukwu was beaming at full-time:
”Remo are champions for a reason, but today, my boys were untouchable. This is the Rangers way.”
