Enugu Rangers are now tantalizingly close to lifting the Nigeria Premier League trophy for the first time in 32 years. The flying antelopes put themselves in pole position for the league title by dispatching Ikorodu United in a match played at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday.
Goals from Obinna Nwobodo and Chisom Egbuchulam inspired the Rangers team to a 2-1 victory over their counterparts from Lagos. With the win, Rangers have now amassed 60 points, three points ahead of their closest rival, Rivers United.
The final game to be played by Rangers is almost certainly a formality; they could still lift the trophy even if they lose to El Kanemi next weekend. Rivers United, currently in second place with 57 points would need to make up for their inferior goals difference by thrashing Akwa United by a five-goal margin while banking on Rangers to falter at home to their opponents from the North East. Rivers United may rue their less than satisfactory performance against Abia Warriors in the penultimate match of their league campaign. Their goalless draw against the Warriors means that only a combination of highly unlikely coincidences will land them the NPL trophy.
It has been a dream season for Enugu Rangers, sharply contrasting with their labored march the year before, in which they only just managed to avoid getting relegated.