Giants Rangers will look to the NPFL after they reaffirmed their position as the best team in Enugu with victory in the state FA Cup.
Rangers International manager, Abdul Maikaba, is optimistic that his team will be motivated heading into the second round of the NPFL season.
Maikaba made this statement after the Flying Antelopes emerged as champions of the 2023 Enugu State FA Cup on Wednesday.
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The former NPFL champions put on a stunning show following a 5-1 win over Ingas FC in the final at the Rangers Practice Pitch, Independence Layout in Enugu on Wednesday.
Rangers set for NPFL resurgence
The Flying Antelopes have had a poor start to the abridged NPFL season, sitting just a point above relegation.
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Maikaba’s Rangers have won just two matches from a possible eight (8) in the first half of the season, leaving them seventh on the table in Group B.
However, they put behind them their poor showing in the NPFL to show their class against NLO side Ingas FC following a six-goal thriller against Ingas in the one-sided FA Cup final.
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Three goals in the second half propelled Rangers to an easy win over their NLO opponents, a result Flying Antelopes boss, Maikaba, believes will motivate the team heading into the second half of the season.
“I am happy with the performance of my players today, especially with the harvest of goals,” Maikaba said after the FA Cup win.
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“It is my belief that it will motivate the players going into the second round of the NPFL season starting with our rescheduled match with Rivers United.”
Speaking further on their win over Ingas, the former Akwa United and Plateau United boss said that the early goals from his side proved to be a decisive game-changer.
“It was a good game against a determined side but our early goals destabilized them” he added.
The match in brief
It was a dominant display from Rangers who were no match for their opponents in the FA Cup final, Ingas FC.
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Godwin Obaje was the star of the match for the Flying Antelopes following a late second half brace from the reliable striker.
Chidera Ezeh put the Antelopes in front with a stunning free kick before Innocent Gabriel doubled their advantage in the opening 15 minutes.
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Ingas did pull one goal back via another excellent free kick from Okorie Chidiedozie to ensure only one goal separated both sides at the break.
In the second 45 minutes, Chidiebere Nwobodo restored the two-goal lead for the Rangers when he made it 3-1 in the 57 minutes.
Reliable forward, Obaje, then wrapped up proceedings at the Independence Layout with two late goals to give Rangers the title.
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