Rangers
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, April 24, 2018 (NAN) As Lagos-based MFM FC tackles Rangers International of Enugu on Thursday, the club’s mercurial striker, Sikiru Olatunbosun, has boasted of his side’s continued undefeated status against the Enugu-based team.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Olukoya Boys are set for test fight against the seven-time Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Flying Antelopes at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
Both teams are expected to meet for the re-scheduled Match Day 13 fixture due to the continental engagement of MFM FC.
The Gbenga Ogunbote-tutored side has a rich history in league matches, winning it seven times in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982 and 2016.
In the previous meeting between both teams in the 2015/2016 NPFL fixtures, MFM and Rangers had one win apiece. The church Boys won their Match Day 10 encounters 1-0 in Agege.
The Flying Antelope, however, won the reverse Match Day 30 by the same margin at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
However, in the 2016/2017 NPFL fixture, Sikiru Olatunbosun wonder goal against the Coal City boys cannot be forgotten in a hurry as MFM piped them 2-1 to win.
Rangers, however, took their pound of flesh in the reverse fixture as they defeated MFM 2-0 at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
The two league gladiators will be meeting for the first time in the current 2017/2018 NPFL fixtures.
Rangers International in their last five games has only one win, three draws and one loss.
The team last played a 0-0 away to Ifeanyi Ubah on Match Day 18, played another goalless encounter away to Kwara United, Match Day 17, lost away to Niger Tornadoes 0-1in Match Day 16.
The Flying Antelope then defeated the league newcomers, Yobe Desert Stars 3-0 at home on Match Day 13, while they played another 2-2 encounter away to Go Round FC at Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omuku Rivers.
For MFM FC their campaign in the current season has not been impressive, maybe largely due to their continental engagements.
The Olukoya Boys were knocked out of the two continental campaigns in quick succession, first a 2-6 bashing in the hands of MC Algiers in the CAF Champions League.
The Church Boys suffered a shocking 0-1 defeat to the less fancied Djoliba FC of Mali but put up a spirited 0-0 fight in the reverse fixtures in Bamako in the CAF Confederation Cup play off.
For their NPFL matches, MFM last played an uninspiring 1-1 draw with Rivers United in front of their disappointed fans on Monday Match Day 18.
The team, however, had to grind out a 2-1 win over Nasarawa United in Match Day 16; they also defeated Kastina United 2-1 at the Agege Stadium, Match Day 14.
The team recorded an emphatic 3-0 win over Heartland FC of Owerri at the Soccer Temple Agege Stadium, the best result so far this season.
Speaking on the match against Rangers, the last year’s “BBC Goal of the Month recipient, Olatunbosun said that the goal against Rangers in the previous season still remained fresh.
“My goal against them last season is still fresh, they are a team we respect a lot but we want our unimpressive games so far to spur us to a win in Enugu.
“Maybe the least we should be expecting in the match away in Enugu is a draw. If Rivers United can come to Agege to claim a draw then, we can replicate such.
“A win against Rangers will be a major boost to our confidence, he said. (NAN)
KOJE/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)