Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Rangers International will begin their defence of their title with a fixture against El-Kanemi Warriors on the opening day of the campaign at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Saturday(Today).
Rangers will be hoping to ape the last two champions, Enyimba and Rivers United, before them, who began their title defence on a winning note but will however aim to go one higher at the end of the season, may be, by becoming the first club to win back-to-back titles for the first time in a decade when Kano Pillars achieved that feat in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Fidelis Ilechukwu and his men could however draw inspiration from the fact that Rangers have never dropped points in the last two decades whenever when they play hosts to El-Kanemi in the league and have yet to concede as well in the last nine corresponding fixtures.
The Flying Antelopes began last season at home when they face Doma United at their adopted home ground in Awka where they won 2-1. Interestingly, both players who scored for Rangers in last season’s opening day – Kalu Nweke and Austin Onyemaechi – have swapped the white and red shirt for neighbouring rivals, Enyimba in the off-season window.
Despite having the odds favouring them, the Flying Antelopes have started the season in their first competitive outing on a tepid note. Over two legs in the playoff of the CAF Champions League against Comoros Island’s US Zilimadjou, Rangers struggled to edge them 2-1 on aggregate, a result that raised concern if the Enugu side are ready for the long season which will see them compete on three fronts in the NPFL, the President Federation Cup and the Champions League.
El-Kanemi Warriors, on the other hand, also did not cover themselves in glory in their playoff round against Benin Republic’s Dadje FC. They were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup. El-Kanemi head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, now has to prep his side for the task of navigating through the long season in the NPFL and later defending their Cup title.
The opening day of the season will also continue the following weekend of September 7 and 8 with nine other matches.
Among the nine matches will witness one of the newly promoted sides, Ikorodu City will have their hands full when they make the trip to Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano to face former champions Kano Pillars. Also, new boys Beyond Limits play hosts to an experienced Enyimba side.
Ahead of the new season, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) took steps to bring improvement. The league body organized seminars to cover security, media coverage, supporters as well as keeping the players and coaches abreast of new laws in the sport.
NPFL chairman, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, explained that the investment in the workshops is to improve on previous seasons.
“We are investing in the series of workshops which began with clubs’ Media Directors, the Chief Security Officers and Chairmen of Club Supporters because we aim to have a better season than we have had in the past,” he said.
MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Rangers v El-Kanemi Warriors
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Beyond Limits v Enyimba
Lobi Stars v Akwa Utd
Kwara Utd v Niger Tornadoes
Bendel Insurance v Rivers Utd
Kano Pillars v Ikorodu City
Plateau Utd v Katsina Utd
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Abia Warriors v Remo Stars
Sunshine Stars v Bayelsa Utd
Nasarawa Utd v 3SC
