BY SCM Sportsman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu
THE legendary Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium—reverently known by the faithful as “The Cathedral”—witnessed a rare act of footballing sacrilege on Sunday as Ikorodu City marched into Enugu and snatched a sensational 2-1 victory over the reigning NPFL champions, Enugu Rangers.
For decades, the 22,000-capacity Cathedral has been a graveyard for visiting teams, a place where the “Flying Antelopes” usually soar on the wings of a partisan home crowd.
But on Sunday, the Lagos-based newcomers refused to follow the script, delivering a clinical performance that left the Enugu stands in a state of stunned silence.
The atmosphere at the Ogui Road landmark was electric at kick-off, with the home fans expecting a routine dismantling of the visitors. However, Ikorodu City showed no respect for the history of the turf.
They struck with the precision of a surgeon, exploiting gaps in the Rangers’ backline to take a lead that the hosts struggled to recover from.
Rangers, fighting to protect their fortress, clawed one back to make it 2-1, sending a roar through the stadium that shook the very foundations of the old concrete stands.
But despite a frantic late assault on the Ikorodu goal, the “Cathedral” could not provide its usual divine intervention.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the small pocket of traveling fans, while the Rangers faithful were left to ponder a result that shatters their aura of invincibility at home.
For Ikorodu City, this wasn’t just three points; it was a statement of intent written on the hallowed grass of Nigeria’s most intimidating venue.
In the NPFL, they say if you can survive The Cathedral, you can survive anywhere. After this 2-1 victory, Ikorodu City aren’t just surviving—they are thriving.
