It was another dogged and determined performance from Coal City’ ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C as it successfully caged the raging ‘Wolves’, Warri Wolves F.C 1-0 in a pre-season friendly encounter played inside the main bowl of Warri City stadium.
Ibrahim Olawoyin’s 75th-minute solitary strike made the difference in the cagy encounter that saw the home side do all it can to contain the visiting side with some intelligent midfield play.
Coach Benedict Ugwu of Rangers paraded a near-complete different squad from the one that defeated Heartland F.C three days back with Uche John, Kehinde Adedipe, Ibrahim Olawoyin and Sadick Abbas featuring in both matches and it took some time for the premiership returning side from Warri to get into the game.
Ibrahim, Sadick and Chinonso Eziekwe were a handful for the home side but some minutes loss of concentration on the 10th minute denied the game it is the opening goal as an inch-perfect cross from Adedipe missed the needed connection from a vantage Olawoyin.
Coach Ngozi Elechi of Warri Wolves who lost their previous two friendlies to Enyimba and Akwa United featured a side that stood toe to toe with the invading ‘Flying Antelopes’ who have found scoring easily in its other friendly matches.
After a barren first half, coach Ugwu introduced fresh legs in Dauda Madaki, Ifeanyi George, Seka Pascal and Emeka Ayogueke and the tide swung in their favour as the Wolves’ shot-stopper did well to keep out the attacking play of Rangers on three occasions but could not stop Olawoyin’ volley on 75 minutes off a Madaki’ incisive cross.
Coach Ugwu said after the difficult duel, “I thank God for His grace upon our team today. It was a tough match but we did well to contain them and got the needed goal for the victory. No doubt, we still have some work to do going into the start of the season with the game against Gabonese side, A.S Pelicans. We hope to get the required results.”
Recall that under care-taker coach, Benedict Ugwu, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ have secured ten wins in ten pre-season friendly matches.
