By Taye Hassan Adigun
Ibrahim Idris Guda 59th minute equalizer saved a point for inform Wikki Tourists as they drew Rangers Internationals on Saturday at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe to reclaim second spot and level on point with Plateau United on standing.
After a frantic opening lacking in clear-cut chances in the early minute of the encounter, the game exploded late in the first half Rangers Internationals were on the front foot right from the start, Peter Ambrose of Wikki is lucky enough to thwart Ikechukwu Ibenegbu’s through-ball aimed at Kehinde Adedipe. The visitors shocked the home fans in the 39 minutes when defender Emmanuel Nwokeji heads in Ikechuckwu “Mosquito” Ibenegbu sublime freekick inside the box
The result moves Wikki Tourists into 2nd, same point with the leaders Plateau United, while Rangers remain in the 19th on the log with 5 points from six games.
There was a lack of early chances as Rangers got into good positions but, symptomatic of a team lacking confidence, simply did not know what to do with it. Wikki Tourists’ best chance came down the right flank as Sikiru Kamal squared for Daniel Jackson, whose low, sliding effort was saved well by the Ghanaian International Nana Bonsu.
Rangers began to sit in after the break as acting manager Garba Ibrahim soon to replace Musa Newman for Daniel Jackson 10 minutes into the second half, though the hosts did break briefly through Guda, Traore Issif’s clamp-on Guda inside the box, the centre referee Abubakar Mohammed make no mistake to point into the spot for penalty fouled Idris Guda.
Idris Ibrahim Guda stepped up and easily send Rangers’ goalie Nana Bonsu to the wrong side of the post to make it 1-1 for the home side to level up the scores.
Team Line-up: Yusuf Muhammed 34; Waziri Christopher 3, Amiru Ahmed 28, Franklin Anthony 19, Peter Ambrose 6, Sikiru Kamal 13 (Saidu Abdullahi 8) , Hassan Husseini 4 , Promise Damala 33
Ajala Olushola 14, Idris Mohammed Guda 7 Jackson Daniel 20 ( Musa Aliyu Newman 29)
Unused Sub: Adamu Abubakar 22, Wisdom Jumbo 2, Mansoor Saleh Aliyu 25, Sixtus Forsah 12, Saidu Abdullahi 8, Adamu Mohammed 18.
Rangers Line-up: Nana Bonsu 25, Tope Olusesi 20, Emmanuel Nwokeji 32, Uche John 4, Anthony Shimaga 26, Traore Issif 6, Ifeanyi George 15 (Seka Pascal 9), Ibrahim Olawoyin 17, Kelvin Itoya (Dauda Madaki 31) 8, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu 10, Kehinde Adedipe 22
Unused Sub: Femi Thomas 16, Pape Ousmane Sane 5, Chinonso Eziekwe 14, Isaac Loute 13, Madu Christian 21
