Maikaba Targets Away Wins For Rangers

Maikaba Targets Away Wins For Rangers

Alfred Kadiri

Coach Abdul Maikaba has given credit to the Doma United goalkeeper for stopping the Rangers strike force from scoring more goals but credited his lads for picking the 3points, BSNSports.com.ng reports 

“It was a good game that would have seen more goals from my boys but for some good goalkeeping from the opponents," said Maikaba.

"I congratulate my team for this win as we try to overcome our difficult start.

"I am encouraged by this performance and believe that very soon, we shall start picking points on the road.”

A Chidera Ezeh’s well-taken spot-kick in 38 minutes ensured that the Flying Antelopes scoop all three points available on Matchday 7 of the NPFL 2022/2023 abridge league.

The Group B encounter against hard-fighting, Doma United under the scorching sun at Awka City Stadium, proved to be a difficult one for the Rangers but their experience gave them a day.

Doma United started the encounter with high hopes of continuing their unbeaten run to five matches but came unstuck against a Rangers side that was looking to get back to winning ways after a not-too-impressive start to the season.

With the attacking duo of Godwin Obaje and Hadi Mohammed ably supplied with the right ammunition from the quartet of Austin Onyemaechi, Naziru Auwalu, Shedrack Asiegbu, and Innocent Gabriel, it was only a matter of when, not, if the coach Maikaba side would score just as captain Uche John led bravely from the back.

After surviving an early raid from the visitors that saw lanky Samuel Enefiok blaze his effort wide on three minutes, the home side turned the screw on the backline of the Gombe stateside as Hadi Mohammed and Innocent Gabriel saw their well-taken efforts blocked out by agile goal tender, Kingdom Osayi on the 16 and 20 minutes.

As the game crept past the half-hour mark, with the fans urging them on, substitute, Chukwudi Nwaodu released enterprising Austin Onyemaechi whose dashing run toward goal was hacked down inside the box by Saifullahi Yusuf and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot and right-back, Chidera Ezeh expertly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to send the fans into celebrations.

With the victory, Rangers who now have 8 points will next play Bayelsa United in a Matchday 9 fixture at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Sunday, as the midweek Matchday 8 fixture against Rivers United has been postponed.