NPFL: How Gombe Utd Ibrahim Yahaya’s goal stunned Rangers
A 47th-minute strike by a substitute, Ibrahim Yahaya, was enough for the home side, Gombe United to annex the maximum points at stake as the ‘Savannah Scorpions’ stung the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International in a match day 37, NPFL 2021/2022 fixture inside a capacity filled, Gombe stadium, Pantami.
Rangers’ technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba had opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Elijah Ani leading the attack and they were able to hold their own against the faster and mobile host limiting them to only two long-range shots that failed to worry Seidu Mutawakilu in the first half-hour of the game.
READ ALSO:WAFCON 2022: Nigeria thrash Burundi to set up Cameroon clash in Q/final
Coach Aliyu Zubairu of Gombe United made two early substitutions on 38 minutes with the duo of Ibrahim Yahaya and Samaila Bello taking the places of Issa Ojifinni and Barnabas Daniel and the tide turned in favor of the home side with the backline of Rangers stretched to its limit just as Seidu Mutawakilu made some brave saves to ensure both sides retired to the dressing room on even note.
A slip in the midfield saw Chidiebere Nwobodo robbed of the ball by an opponent who raced clear of his markers to lay perfectly for onrushing Yahaya to blast home from inside the six-yard and send the large turn-out of spectators into wild jubilation.
Efforts by the visitors to find a way back into the match with the introduction of the trio of Sam Pam, Moses Effiong, and Chinonso Eziekwe as the game crept past the hour mark did not yield the needed dividends as the backline of the home side tightened its grip while goalkeeper, Itodo Akor had to make a reactionary save on 82 minutes after Julius Ikechukwu’ connecting header seems to be creeping into the net.
READ ALSO:WAFCON 2022: Nigeria thrash Burundi to set up Cameroon clash in Q/final
With five minutes left to play, Rangers’ chances were further reduced as captain, Tope Olusesi got his second caution of the game and played no more part in the encounter as they suffered a numerical disadvantage that put paid to any effort of wrestling the chest-nut out of a burning fire.
With the result, Rangers remain in 5th place on the twenty-team log with 53 points from 37 matches and will next play Akwa United in the last match of the season at the Awka City Stadium on Sunday, July 17, 2022.
Rangers’ gaffer, Abdul Maikaba, said after the encounter, “We lost this game to a good side that showed more hunger despite the fact that my players started the game very well and had them pinned to their half for almost all of the first stanza. However, the loss of concentration by my players in the second half let us down. We have to re-strategize ahead of the coming season as all we worked for this season has come to nothing.”
RANGERS TEAM: Seidu Mutawakilu, Tope Olusesi, Bala Akintunde, Charles Tiesso, Uche John, Olawale Doyeni, Chidiebere Nwobodo (Moses Effiong -57th Min.), Chukwuebuka Okorie (Samuel Pam -73rd Min.), Shedrack Asiegbu, Julius Ikechukwu (Eboko Ikechukwu -89th Min.), Elijah Ani (Chinonso Eziekwe -73rd Min.). UNUSED SUBS: Bamidele Adeniyi, Philip Clement, David Chimezie, Tofic Omar.