Rangers Bounce Back From The Dead, Defeat Kano Pillars 4-2 On Penalties To Claim Aiteo Cup Title

Rangers FC of Enugu were crowned the 2018 Aiteo Cup champions Wednesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba and guaranteed a 2019 CAF Confederation Cup slot as they defeated Kano Pillars 4-2 on penalties after the game ended 3-3 on regulation time with Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr in attendance.

Rabiu Ali, Ibrahim Alassan, Nymar Nwagua were on the scoresheet for Pillars while Kelvin Itoya, Chidera Eze and Ajani Ibrahim got the Enugu side back into the game.

Rangers had the first shot at goal but Chidera Eze's chance went horribly wide.

That early miss hurt the Flying Antelopes as Rabiu Ali snatched a fifth minute goal for Pillars rifling the ball to the top corner after some calamitous piece of defending by  coach Gbenga Ogunbote's team.

Ibrahim Alassan doubled Pillars' goal in the 20th minute after his corner kick was misjudged by wrongly positioned keeper Femi Thomas who inadvertently pushed the ball into his own net.

Rangers continued their profligacies as several freekicks awarded them were off target.

Rangers escaped more misery as a 43rd minute 'goal' was ruled out as Junior Lokosa was in an offside position.

Pillars scored their third goal of the evening when Nymar Nwagua outfoxed two Rangers defenders in the 48th minute and powered an unstoppable low drive which Thomas in Rangers' goal was unable to stop.

Thomas's game came to an end five minutes replaced by Ghanaian Nana Bonsu.

Kelvin Itoya had a chance in the 67th minute to restore some hopes for the Coal City side but his close header was saved by Obiazo.

However the midfielder struck a superb long range strike in the 77th minute to reduce the arrears.

Chidera Eze scored Rangers' second goal with a a low shot that stunned the Masu Gida fans in the stands and rejuvenated those of Rangers.

Nana Bonsu produced an instinctive save from Junior Lokosa with two minutes left on the clock.

With eight minutes additional time added substitute Ajani Ibrahim got the back breaking equaliser in the 90th minute as he stooped to nod home the ball badly punched out by David Obiazo.

Rangers' Isaac Loute went close with a freekick in the 96th minute while teammate Ifeanyi George's shot afterwards was cleared for a corner which was eventually not played as the final whistle went.

The game went into penalty shootouts.

Kano Pillars' Rabiu Ali missed his kick and Jimoh Ismailia missed their kicks albeit Musa Auwalu, Ikenna Hilary scored from 12 yards out.

Rangers scored all their four kicks with Bright Silas, Chidera Eze, Ifeanyi George and Isaac Loute hitting targets.

Rangers were rewarded with N25 million  for their victory while Pillars were handed a cheque of N10 million.

Music acts Phyno and Simi serenaded the fans at half time and full time of the intriguing contest.


Izuchukwu Okosi