The wards of vastly traveled and experienced coach Abdul Maikaba in the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C’ fold is set to continue their fine form in the ongoing NPFL 2021/2022 football season with an expected win as the ‘Olukoya Boys’, M.F.M come with their ‘Fire and Miracles’ for a matchday 6 fixture.
The encounter will hold on Sunday, January 16, 2022, with kickoff slated for 16.00 hours inside the main bowl of F.C Ifeanyiubah International stadium, Ozubulu road, Nnewi, Anambra state, the adopted home of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ as the revered ‘Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu is still undergoing renovation.
Coach Maikaba after supervising the team’s last training session before moving to Nnewi, said that with the level of determination shown by his wards, annexing the maximum points at stake won’t be too hard a task against an M.F.M side that is gradually working its way back to reckoning after a faulty start to the season.
“Actually, no two games are the same but with the level of competition for selection shown in training by my players, I strongly believe that we shall have cause to celebrate after the match against M.F.M. No doubt, they are a good side and we respect them for that but we really need to continue our upward push so as to get our target at the end of the season,” stated coach Maikaba.
On a retrospective note, matches between the visitors from Lagos and the host have always produced an end-to-end, entertaining style of football with five of the eleven encounters ending on even notes while both sides have celebrated three victories apiece.
Going into this fixture, Rangers have had a good run of two wins, two drawn games, and a loss while the visiting ‘Olukoya Boys’ boast of two wins and three losses with the home side occupying the 4th position on the twenty team log while M.F.M is currently placed 14th.
Rangers coach may likely rely on his regular backline ably led by exemplary captain, Tope Olusesi ably assisted by the duo of Ernest Governor and Ebuka Anthony with former ‘Church-Boy’, Bala Akintunde expected to provide enough cover for another ‘Church-Boy’, Bamidele Adeniyi between the sticks against the likes of Mbonu Michael, Christian Molokwu, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Moses Adikwu that will be deployed by coach Shola Balogun.
Elijah Ani, Christian Nnaji, Ossy Martins are all available for selection to lead the attack for coach Maikaba while the experienced gaffer has a large pool of quality midfielders to make his selection for what already seems like a big win for the home side.
