Abia Warriors head coach Imama Amapakabo did not mince words after his side suffered a 2–0 defeat to Rangers International in the rescheduled NPFL 25/26 Matchday 5 Oriental Derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
The hosts were fired up from the first whistle, with Waheed’s early cross finding Godwin Obaje, whose header flashed just wide in the opening minute.
Rangers continued to press, and in the 7th minute, Obaje forced goalkeeper Okiemute Odah into a brilliant save from close range.
Centre-back Chidozie Iwundu broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, rising highest to meet Evans Ogbonda’s inch-perfect corner for his second goal of the season.
Ogbonda turned provider again in the 32nd minute, whipping in another teasing delivery that Obaje nodded home for 2–0, the striker’s fourth goal of the campaign and third in successive matches.
Abia Warriors struggled to settle in the first half, something Amapakabo admitted after the game.
“It’s unfortunate we weren’t impressive in the first half,” he said. “We reacted poorly and conceded two free goals. When you don’t respond properly, you get punished.”
The Warriors came out fighting after the restart, nearly pulling one back when Casemir Azubuike’s thunderous strike rattled the post in the 48th minute.
The rebound fell kindly to Emeka Obioma, but his weak shot was comfortably saved by Rangers goalkeeper Lucky Abdullahi.
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Abia created more chances as the game wore on, with substitute Chindi Merping and winger Azubuike testing the Rangers defence, but the hosts held firm.
Amapakabo, who led Rangers to the NPFL title in 2016, praised his side’s second-half response but lamented their poor first-half showing.
“In the second half, we played better and had control,” he noted. “We created about five good chances. Honestly, Rangers didn’t create anything after the break. But we shot ourselves in the foot. It’s still early days, 31 matches to go.”
Despite having played multiple fixtures in quick succession, the Abia Warriors boss refused to use fatigue as an excuse.
“I learnt long ago not to make excuses for defeat,” he said. “We’ve been travelling long distances, 18 or 19 hours on the road but that’s football. We’ve lost this one, and we congratulate Rangers.”
Imama Amapakabo. Photo Credit: Abia Warriors/X
The experienced coach, however, expressed frustration at what he described as poor matchday conduct, insisting such incidents hurt the image of the NPFL.
“There are things that shouldn’t happen in our football,” he said pointedly. “Rangers were leading 2–0, and from the first minute of the second half, we had about 10 or 12 match balls suddenly, they disappeared. It’s appalling and doesn’t speak well of our league.”
He continued:
“We are football-loving people. Imagine paying for a two-hour movie and the producer suddenly appears in it, that’s what it feels like. When you’re leading 2–0, why hide the balls? These are the things I detest.”
The loss ended Abia Warriors’ two-game winning streak and saw them drop to fourth place on goal difference behind Rivers United. They will return to Umuahia to face El-Kanemi Warriors on Sunday.
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Rangers’ victory their first two-goal margin over Abia Warriors in Enugu since 2020 lifts the Flying Antelopes to fifth on the NPFL table.
