Enugu Rangers have won the Nigeria Premier Football League for the ninth time after a dramatic final day 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City in Lagos on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.
The Flying Antelopes went into the decisive fixture knowing only a win would guarantee the championship, with intense pressure also coming from challengers Rivers United, who were in action simultaneously in Port Harcourt on the final day.
Despite the tension, Rangers responded with a composed and clinical performance, taking control through Chidiebere Nwobodo, who struck twice in the 30th and 52nd minutes to put the visitors in command in Lagos.
Ikorodu City, who had been strong at home throughout the season, reduced the deficit through Moses Ali in the 58th minute, setting up a tense finale.
However, Rangers showed defensive discipline and game management in the closing stages to hold on and secure the win that ultimately sealed the title on 68 points.
In Port Harcourt, the Finidi George-led side did everything within their control to apply pressure in the race, producing a dominant 3-0 victory over Katsina United.
Despite that emphatic win, Rivers United finished second on 67 points, just one behind Rangers, in a finish that pictured how small the margins were at the top of the table.
The combination of Rangers’ efficiency in Lagos against an Ikorodu City team that had been unbeaten at home throughout the season and Rivers United’s strong but insufficient response elsewhere defined a dramatic conclusion to the campaign.
The triumph marks another milestone in Rangers’ storied history, adding to previous league successes in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016 and 2023/24, cementing their status as one of Nigerian football’s most decorated clubs.