By Daily sports on January 4, 2021

Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Sunday defeated Akwa United FC of Uyo 1-0 in a Match Day 2 of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Israel Abia scored the only goal in the 60th minute of the match played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victory gave Rangers their first three points of the new season.

They had lost their Match Day 1 fixture 1-0 against Rivers United in Port Harcourt.

Speaking after the match, Rangers’ Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, praised his players for picking the three points at stake.

Yusuf said the match lived up to its billing, noting that his players gave their maximum attention throughout the match.

”It is our utmost desire to win every match we play in the league and I believe this will boost the players’ confidence,” he said.

The coach added that the three points won from the game mattered a lot.

”It is not the number of goals at this point in time. We need the points and not the goals for now.”

He however urged the players not to let the victory get into their heads because they still have a lot to do in the league.

Meanwhile, Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Sunday claimed the three points at stake against FC IfeanyiUbah in their NPFL Match Day Two encounter.

The match played at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure produced a lone goal scored by midfielder Omojesu Ogunniyi in the ninth minute for a 1-0 win.

Both teams however failed to convert several goalscoring chances in the match.

Sunshine Stars’ Head Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, who said he was optimistic his team would get better as the league progressed, nonetheless called for patience from fans and club supporters.

Ogunbote said the most important thing was that his team got the three points at stake.

“The team is a team in the making. I am very sure we will become a team to beat in no distant time. Winning will ease pressure on the team and the management,” he said.

The coach however canvassed for more support and understanding from the home fans, adding “we will make adjustment where it’s necessary.”

Speaking also, Ogunniyi who was named the Man of the match said scoring the match’s lone goal made him happy.

On his part, the Head Coach of FC IfeanyiUbah, Uche Okagbue, said he was not happy his team failed to convert the goalscoring chances they had.

Okagbue, who however played down the loss, assured that his team would win the reverse fixture during the season’s second round.

With the result, Sunshine Stars now have three points from two matches.

Following are the results of Match Day 2 fixtures played on Sunday:

Kano Pillars 2-0 Katsina United

Heartland FC 1-2 Nasarawa United

Rangers International 1-0 Akwa United

Dakkada FC 2-1 Jigawa Golden Stars

Sunshine Stars 1-0 FC IfeanyiUbah

Lobe Stars 1-0 MFM FC

Warri Wolves 1-0 Adamawa United

Played on Saturday:

Abia Warriors 0-1 Rivers United

Postponed till Jan. 4, 2021:

Wiki Tourists vs Plateau United

Postponed till Jan. 20, 2021:

Kwara United vs Enyimba International

Source

Posted January 4, 2021

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