Enugu Rangers brought Enyimba FC’s unbeaten league run to a halt on Sunday, producing a spirited comeback to secure a 2–1 win in a tense Oriental Derby at the iconic Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
The result marked a statement victory for Rangers, who overturned a second-half deficit to claim bragging rights in one of Nigeria’s most fiercely contested football rivalries.
Enyimba started brightly after a cautious first half that ended goalless, with the visitors breaking the deadlock just four minutes into the second period.
Former Rangers winger Wonah Williams punished his old club in the 49th minute, volleying home from a well-delivered assist by Jonathan Jacobs to silence the home crowd.
But Rangers responded almost immediately, piling pressure on the Aba-based side before equalising in the 61st minute through Onyebuchi Ifeanyi, who capitalised on a defensive lapse inside the box.
The goal sparked controversy, with Enyimba players protesting what they believed was a failure to halt play after a teammate went down injured moments before the corner that led to the equaliser. The referee, however, allowed play to continue.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Rangers pushed forward and completed the comeback in the 68th minute when Iwundu Chidozie rose highest to head home after another defensive mix-up in Enyimba’s area.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, including a powerful long-range effort from Obichere Odinaka that was well saved, and a missed header from Chidera Michael, Rangers held firm to seal all three points.
Speaking after the match, Enyimba Technical Adviser Coach Emmanuel Deutsch Gustavo admitted his side fell short in key moments but insisted the defeat would not derail their season objectives.
He acknowledged Rangers’ stronger determination on the day while stressing that Enyimba remain focused on securing stability in the league and finishing the campaign strongly.
Despite the setback, Enyimba remain 13th on the NPFL table with 43 points and will now shift attention to their Abia State FA Cup semi-final clash against Abia Comets in Aba later this week.
The Aba giants will then return to league action with a crucial fixture against defending champions Remo Stars as they continue their push to finish the season on a stronger note.
For Enyimba, the derby defeat stings—but the fight for consistency and recovery continues.
