Sports
Obaje’s Brace Sees Rangers Triumph Over Nasarawa Utd
Two second half goals in a-five-minute-period by former NPFL top-scorer, Godwin Obaje, ensured that reigning champions of the league, Rangers International bounced back to winning ways, beating Nasarawa United FC 2-0 in a match day 10, at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Smarting from a heartwarming 1-1 draw in Ilorin and 0-0 draw in Uyo in the last two match days, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made three changes to the last match day starting squad, handing starts to goalkeeper, Kingdom Osayi and Godwin Obaje while captain of the side, Chinemerem Ugwueze also started in the very entertaining encounter watched by an appreciable number of fans.
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Opting for a 4-4-2 formation which was aimed at pushing the visitors back so as to contain the exploits of leading goal scorer, Anas Yusuf, with Frank Uwumiro and Godwin Obaje leading the attack with the quartet of Isaac Saviour, Kazeem Ogunleye, Chinemerem Ugwueze and Ejike Ugochukwu anchoring the middle of the pack while the back-four of Effimi Nsi, Evans Ogbonda, Austine Opara, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi providing cover for the man between the sticks, Kingdom Osayi.
The first period witnessed a lot of missed opportunities on both ends but with more missed chances coming the way of the home side as Effimi Nsi failed to connect when set up by Isaac Saviour on 14 minutes which was followed by Frank Uwumiro’s stinging shot that was pushed out by goalkeeper, Galadima Mohammed on 16 minutes just as Godwin Obaje could not fathom how his efforts on 22 and 40 minutes failed to rest inside the net and Ejike Ugochukwu, Isaac Saviour’ efforts were bravely stopped by Galadima on 36 and 45 minutes.
When both sides returned for the second period, the home side continued to push and probing for openings which came on 55 minutes when Obaje met an Uwumiro cut-back with precision to open his goals account for the season and on 60 minutes, he grabbed his brace in the match as he expertly tucked in the spot kick awarded his side after he was wrestled down inside the box by Victor Collins as the fans yelled for more goals in celebrations.
Obaje would have made it a hat trick of goals on 67 minutes after being fed by Evans Ogbonda but his effort missed target by inches just few minutes after substitute, Silas Nenrot’s stinging shot was pushed out by an alert Galadima on 65 minutes while Nenrot’s effort that found the back of the net was ruled out for offside on 70 minutes. Opportunities also came the way of Kazeem Ogunleye and Godwin Obaje in the 71 and 73 minutes but there were no further goals to show for all the dominance.
As the game neared it closing period, coach Ilechukwu handed game time to two of his young stars, Daniel Onyia and Kelechi Edeh and they did not disappoint.
In the post-match chat, chief-coach of the Enugu side, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, said, “This was a great game with a good result against a quality side. They proved difficult in the first half but after some talks at the break, we got our acts together and converted two of the numerous chances that we created. We are happy with the result and would work harder to convert our chances in subsequent matches.”
Two-goals hero, Godwin Obaje, while reacting to the media after the encounter, said, “We are happy we got the win and I am really glad to have scored in my first start for the season. It goes a long way to show that we are gradually getting into the needed shape to challenge for a good season. Nasarawa United gave us a good fight but we showed more resolve to win.”
With the win, Rangers now occupy the 5th spot on the 20 team log with fifteen points from ten matches and would next play against Plateau United in a match day 11 fixture at the New Jos Stadium, Jos in the coming weekend.
Leicester City have announced the immediate dismissal of Steve Cooper as the club’s manager, following their 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
The club confirmed the decision in a statement published on its official website on Sunday, titled “Leicester City Part Company With Steve Cooper.”
In the statement, the Leicester City board acknowledged Cooper’s efforts but cited the need for a change in leadership.
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“The Board recognizes the hard work and commitment Steve Cooper has shown during his tenure but believes now is the right time for a new direction,” the statement read.
The defeat to Chelsea at the King Power Stadium capped a string of underwhelming performances that have left the Foxes struggling in the league.
Bayern Munich’s star striker, Harry Kane, has firmly responded to recent criticism by delivering a stunning performance on the pitch, setting a new Bundesliga record for the fastest player to reach 50 goals.
Kane’s second-half hat-trick in Bayern’s 3-0 home victory over Augsburg on Friday not only propelled the team eight points clear at the top of the table but also saw him hit the milestone in just 43 games, surpassing Erling Haaland’s previous record of 50 goals in 50 matches.
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The England captain’s clinical display included two penalty goals, extending his remarkable streak to 25 consecutive penalties scored for both club and country since his last miss against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
This hat-trick marked Kane’s seventh in the Bundesliga since joining Bayern in the summer of 2023.
The 31-year-old’s hat-trick comes after he faced criticism during the international break, with some suggesting he should make way for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Addressing the doubters, Kane stated, “I’m used to that now,” acknowledging that the pressure of being a top striker is part of the territory. “I’m experienced enough to know that comes with being one of the top players, one of the top strikers.”
Despite the criticism, Kane feels he is in the best form of his career. “All I can do is do my talking on the pitch, like I did tonight,” he said, reinforcing his focus on letting his performances speak for themselves.
Kane also mentioned he has yet to speak with incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel, who also resides in Munich, but anticipates a conversation about his experiences and how the team can improve under the new coach.
“I’m sure we’ll have a conversation on the experiences I’ve had, the good and bad things, and what we can improve,” he added.
The English Premier League (EPL) has announced the official dates for the 2025/26 season, with the campaign set to kick off on Saturday, August 16, 2025, and conclude on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
The schedule, released in a statement titled “Dates for 2025/26 Premier League season confirmed,” also includes significant changes aimed at improving player welfare, particularly during the festive period.
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For the first time, the Premier League has ensured that no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other during the busy Christmas and New Year period.
Additionally, the league confirmed there will be no fixtures on Christmas Eve, addressing long-standing concerns from players and clubs over the demanding festive schedule.
The statement highlighted: “The schedule continues to allow more rest time for players over the festive match-round period, with no two rounds taking place within 60 hours of each other.
“This is in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested Christmas and New Year schedule.”
The 2025/26 campaign will feature 33 weekends and five midweek match rounds, providing a balanced and evenly distributed calendar for players and fans.
The season’s start date of August 16 ensures players have 83 days of rest following the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign—the longest break possible within the calendar constraints.
The season’s end date, May 24, 2026, ensures all fixtures are completed ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, giving players adequate preparation time for the global tournament.
The Premier League emphasized its commitment to prioritizing player welfare while maintaining the competition’s intensity and appeal.
“The start date of August 16 allows for the maximum player rest time available—83 clear days—from the end of the 2024/25 season. The season end date of May 24, 2026, ensures the Premier League season finishes ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup call-up period. There will be no fixture on December 24, 2025.”
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