Rangers will renew their age-long rivalry with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on Wednesday as they ramp up their quest for the first Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) title since 2016.
Both sides were dominant in the domestic front especially in the late ’70s to early ’80s, producing the crop of players that won Nigeria’s maiden Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) crown on home soil in 1980.
‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala, ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, and many others wrote their names in Nigerian football folklore playing for Rangers and S3C.
The 1977 African Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final played in Kaduna was one such match that captured the rivalry between both sides. Rangers triumphed 2-4 on penalties after the first and second legs of the encounter ended goalless. The Enugu side then went on to clinch the crown, beating Canon Yaounde 5-2 on aggregate.
That rivalry returns when the Flying Antelopes lock horns with the Oluyole Warriors at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
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Having garnered 64 points from 35 matches, a win in Ibadan will further boost Rangers’ chances of landing the title. Last weekend’s game against oriental rivals and Nigeria’s most successful team Enyimba ended in chaos after the latter abandoned the game. But they were awarded three points and goals after the league body found Enyimba at fault for breaching some rules of the competition.
The verdict ensured Rangers extended their lead at the top by five points, the closest to them being Enyimba.
Ahead of the game, the host team has mobilised fans to cheer up the Oluyole Warriors as they welcome the league leaders.
“We know the importance of their presence in large numbers and we are looking forward to more of that against Rangers on Wednesday,” the 3SC Chairman Babatunde Olaniyan said in a club statement in which he, however, warned against inappropriate fan conduct.
Shooting Stars are eight points behind Rangers but a win on Wednesday will boost their chances of sealing a continental berth this season.
The last time both sides met, Rangers won the game, beating 3SC 2-0 in Enugu.
3SC v RANGERS MATCH DETAILS
Centre Referee: Bashiru Saidu
Assistant Referee 1: Ibrahim Yusuf
Assistant Referee 2: Bobby Yali
Fourth official: Ikpomwonsa Imuentiyan
Kick-off time: 5:30 pm
Venue: Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Week 36 NPFL Matches
Below is a list of the NPFL matches today and the game details:
Bendel Insurance V Rivers United
Kick-off: 4 pm
Venue: Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City
Gombe United V Abia Warriors
Kick-off: 3:30 pm
Venue: Pantami Stadium, Gombe
Akwa United V Katsina United
Kick-off: 4 pm
Venue: Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo
Remo Stars V Heartland
Kick-off: 4 pm
Venue: Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne
Niger Tornadoes V Lobi Stars
Kick-off: 4 pm
Venue: Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna
Kwara United V Kano Pillars
Kick-off: 4 pm
Venue: Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin
Sporting Lagos V Plateau United
Kick-off: 4 pm
Venue: Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos
Doma United V Sunshine Stars
Kick-off: 3 pm
Venue: Pantami Stadium, Gombe
