Rangers are 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League champions
Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have clinched the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title after a decisive 2-0 victory over Bendel Insurance in Enugu on Sunday.
This win propelled Rangers to an unbeatable 67 points at the top of the table, following losses by their closest rivals, Remo Stars and Enyimba, who were defeated 2-1 by Sunshine Stars and Sporting Lagos, respectively.
This triumph marks Rangers’ eighth Nigerian league title, solidifying their position as the second most successful club in the league’s history, just behind Enyimba, who have nine titles.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored Flying Antelopes had been leading the league for many weeks but faced the potential of losing the title if they failed to secure a win against Bendel Insurance, with Remo Stars and Enyimba poised to take advantage. However, everything aligned for Rangers on Sunday, as they secured the crucial victory while their rivals faltered.
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The breakthrough came 32 minutes into the match when Kenechukwu Agu scored from a well-placed free-kick, igniting celebrations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. The Flying Antelopes continued to press for another goal, which came in the 65th minute from Chidiebere Nwobodo, calming the nerves of the fans.
Nwobodo’s goal led to jubilant chants of “holy, holy, holy Enugu Rangers is another champion” from the crowd as Rangers held on to their 2-0 lead to secure the championship.
With 67 points, Rangers’ final league game against Gombe United is now a formality, as no team can surpass them. Besides winning the title, the Flying Antelopes have also earned automatic qualification to represent Nigeria in the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League.
The fight for Nigeria’s second Champions League spot will be decided on the last game day, with Remo Stars, Enyimba, and Shooting Stars still in contention.
