BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN ENUGU
ENUGU RANGERS produced a masterclass in Coal City dominance yesterday, swatting aside a fragile Wikki Tourists side 2-0 to keep their title charge firmly on track.
The “Flying Antelopes” turned the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium—affectionately known as the Cathedral—into a house of pain for the visitors, with the game effectively put to bed before the halftime oranges were even sliced.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Godwin Obaje.
The talismanic forward, who has been in scintillating form this season, proved once again why he is the most feared marksman in the NPFL.
In the 33rd minute, Obaje showed predatory instincts that would make a jungle cat jealous, latching onto a loose ball in the box to fire home Rangers’ second.
It wasn’t just his goal that dazzled; his hold-up play and vision provided the pivot for everything Rangers did well in the final third.
The tone was set much earlier, however, by the energetic Wisdom Ebirim. Just 18 minutes into the contest, Ebirim found a pocket of space and unleashed a strike that left the Wikki keeper clutching at thin air.
The early breakthrough sucked the life out of the Tourists, who looked more like sightseers than a professional football outfit for much of the afternoon.
While the goal-scorers will grab the back-page spreads, the engine room was kept humming by the tireless Chidiebere Nwobodo.
His ability to break up play and transition into attack ensured that Wikki’s midfield remained a congested mess.
At the back, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi marshalled the Rangers’ defense with the authority of a Sergeant Major, ensuring the clean sheet remained intact even when Wikki attempted a desperate, late-game rally.
For Wikki Tourists, the trip to Enugu was one to forget. Despite some flashes of flair from Abubakar Aliyu, they struggled to penetrate a Rangers backline that looked as solid as the rock of Gibraltar.
With this 2-0 victory, Enugu Rangers move up to second in the table, breathing down the necks of the league leaders.
If they keep playing with this level of “star power,” the trophy might just be heading to the Coal City come May.
