Good morning!
The sun is shining beautifully after yesterday evening’s rains, and we’re wrapping ourselves in the sweet, sweet embrace of an away derby victory!
At the Cathedral yesterday, our boys reminded everyone why history books still reserve the fattest chapters for Enyimba. We really didn’t come to joke. While one might say we’ve had our fair share of being the punchline this season — thanks to some of our on-pitch and off-pitch shenanigans — yesterday, however, it was all business from kickoff.
Sure, one might argue that Enugu Rangers have been on a bad run at home. Well, we just stretched it to three straight home defeats. And it was a richly deserved win for our boys, who badly needed a response after a strangely meandering tail end to our campaign.
Eguma selected the returning Ani Ozoemena in goal, with Innocent Gabriel and Solomon Ogberahwe slotting in at fullback. Afolayan Peters and Pascal Eze completed the backline. In midfield, Kalu Nweke — back at his old stomping ground — started alongside Chinedu Ufere and Quadri Odusukanmi. Upfront, Joseph Atule and Ekene Awazie flanked Brown Ideye.
Barely six minutes in, Quadri warmed Divine’s gloves with a stinger from distance, forcing the Rangers keeper — standing in for the injured Lucky Abdullahi — into early action. Atule and Quadri then took turns missing glorious chances, but it only delayed the inevitable.
In the 21st minute, Innocent Gabriel — yes, our very own angel — powered in a thunderous freekick that left Divine pondering life’s deepest mysteries. Beaten in just over 20 minutes on the biggest day of his career. 1-0. Cathedral stunned. Enyimba smiling.
And it got worse for the hosts.
Five minutes later, Quadri and Awazie combined like freshly baked bread and hot butter. Quadri threaded a gorgeous pass through a sleeping Rangers defense, and Awazie, with the subtlety of a master thief, flicked it delightfully over Divine for 2-0. At that point, the Cathedral didn’t need a choir — it needed candles and counselling. Instead of praying for their team, some of the home fans even started cheering for us. That’s how bleak things got for the Coal City faithful.
By halftime, it felt like we were dining with destiny — with a red-hot coal standard, mind you. Rangers could barely string four passes together without feeling the raging charge of the Elephants.We controlled the first half masterfully but couldn’t add to our tally. Still, you know how derbies go — they have more lives than a cat in a fairy tale.
Second half, Chiedozie Okorie, introduced at halftime, pulled one back for Rangers in the 66th minute. Suddenly, hope flickered among the home fans. But as we know, hope is not a strategy. Our boys, marshalled by the ever-assured Ani Ozoemena, stood tall. When the marauding Okorie threatened late on, Ani went full cat-mode, sprawling to deny the equalizer and keep our lead intact. Four minutes of added time later, the job was done. We walked out of Enugu with our heads held high, three points richer, and our bragging rights fully intact.
Another derby, another victory over our oriental brothers. A full season without defeat against Abia Warriors, Heartland, and Enugu Rangers — 4 points each from all three!
Just imagine if we were this ruthless against everyone else…
With this vital win, we leap into 5th — still four points off 3rd with three matches left. Can we better the points haul of Abia Warriors and Ikorodu City over these last three games to gatecrash the continent? Impossible is nothing!
And oh, a quick shoutout to Remo Stars — congratulations on clinching your first ever NPFL title! (Welcome to the big boys’ club, lads. We’ll keep your seat warm — the one right behind our nine shining trophies.)
We go again.
EnyimbaEnyi
