NPFL 2023/24 MW: Kazeem Ogunleye With the Clincher, As Rivers Utd Capitulates to Another Defeat

January, 25 2024.

... It's Heartland Vs Kwara Utd Today

Kazeem Ogunleye netted the winner with a well-struck free-kick, five minutes into the second half, as Rangers Int'l FC edged hard fighting Rivers United 1-0, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, in Enugu, to end thier campaign in the first round of the 2023/24 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), on a high.

The cagey affair saw the sides, miss at least a couple of half chances each, before Rangers took the lead through Ogunleye, an attacking midfielder that jumped the ship of Plateau United, with Fidelis Ilechukwu to Enugu, in August 2023.

Victory for the Flying Antelopes took their tally to 28 points, and up to 8th in the table; eight points off the pace; while the defeat for Rivers United leaves Stanley Eguma and his men in the 14th spot, and on 21 points, with three more outstanding fixtures yet to be played.

Prior to Wednesday's rescheduled fixtures at The Cathedral, Coach Stanley Eguma's aka the Fabio Capelo of the NPFL, spok of the need of his team to approach every game, henceforth as a cup final, and knowing that they have already dropped so many points, this term.

One other outstanding game, rescheduled for Thursday (today), pits bottom of the table, Heartland FC of Owerri against struggling Kwara United of Ilorin; www.ckdmedia.ng reports.

But it is not certain, where the postponed Day-18 encounter will hold; as the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri and Umuahia Township Stadium, home ground of Abia Warriors were currently barred by the league regulators, from hosting NPFL matches, until there are substantial improvements, to their playing surfaces.

We can however confirm that the management of Heartland FC of Owerri have opted to host their home games, in the second round, at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, pending when the Imo State government is able to effect repairs on the playing pitch, and its approval by NPFL inspectors.