Rangers lift Aiteo Cup after stunning Pillars 4-2 on penalties
.Win N25 million prize money
Enugu Rangers have lifted the 2018 edition of the Aiteo Cup after a nail-biting penalty shootout win over Kano Pillars on Wednesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
It was a game of two halves with Sai Masu Gida side dominating the first half and racing to a two goal lead by halftime through Rabiu Ali and Alassan Ibrahim in the fifth and 19th minutes.
Pillars continued from where they left off at the start of the second half with Nyima Nwagua putting his name on the scoresheet in the 48th minute.
Ibrahim Musa’s men would have increased the tally few minutes after the third goal but the centre referee adjudged that the Pillars’ goalscorer was offside before scoring.
The dramatic comeback started when Gbenga Ogunbote efffected some changes. He brought on Kelvin Itoya and Ajani Ibrahim while Nana Bonsu replaced ineffective Femi Thomas.
The Flying Antelopes reduced the arrears in the 77th minute through Itoya before Chidera Ezeh netted the second in the 82nd minute to the delight of Rangers fans.
The stadium was brought to a standstill in the dying minute of the game when Ibrahim, another substitute made his impact felt with the equaliser.
There was not much to separate the two teams after the Flying Antelopes’ equaliser and it was not long after the centre referee, Adebimpe Quadri blew the whistle to end the game.
Ever reliable penalty taker, Rabiu Ali stepped out to take the first spot kick but he ballooned his effort over the bar while Godwin Zaki, Chidera Ezeh, Ifeanyi George and Okey Odita all converted theirs for Rangers.
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Pillars could only convert two of their four kicks while Jimoh Ismail was also unlucky from the 12 yards when his effort was saved by Nana Bonsu.
Rangers received the N25m naira prize money for winning the competition and also the ticket to represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup later in the year. It is their first Aiteo Cup which they last won under another name in 1983.