CHIMEZIE VICTOR'S STRIKE FIRES FLYING ANTELOPES TO TOP SPOT

Chimezie Victor's first-half strike proved decisive as Rangers International FC secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Kwara United FC in their Matchday 12 encounter at the Awka City Stadium.

Chimezie Victor's first-half strike proved decisive as Rangers International FC secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Kwara United FC in their Matchday 12 encounter at the Awka City Stadium. The encounter lived up to expectations, with the Flying Antelopes dominating large spells of the first half before surviving a spirited second-half response from the visitors to claim all three points. Rangers made a bright start, enjoying possession and dictating the tempo in the opening exchanges while constantly threatening the Kwara United defence. The hosts came close to taking the lead in the eighth minute when Pius Igwe delivered a well-measured cross into the area. Godwin Obaje headed the ball down into a dangerous position, but Precious Agu's effort sailed over the crossbar. The Flying Antelopes continued to pile pressure on the Harmony Boys and created another opportunity in the 12th minute. Folarin Temitope's cross found Obaje in the box, and the forward laid the ball into the path of Igwe, whose effort went over the bar. Four minutes later, Rangers threatened again after Chimezie Victor dispossessed Ferinyaro Ali on the edge of the area. Igwe found Obaje with a pass, but the striker's effort lacked the power to trouble Ayeleso Suraju, who made a comfortable save. Philip Clement tested the Kwara United goalkeeper with a long-range effort in the 19th minute, but Suraju was equal to the task. Rangers came close once more in the 21st minute when Precious Agu set up Uwana Asuquo inside the box, but Suraju made himself big to deny the right back. The visitors gradually grew into the contest and registered their first notable opportunity in the 28th minute. After Temitope lost possession in midfield, a well-weighted pass found Benjamin Jack outside the area, but his effort failed to trouble Lucky Jimoh. Kwara United won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 32nd minute, with Ferinyaro Ali stepping up to take it, but Jimoh gathered comfortably. Rangers continued to search for the breakthrough, and Pius Igwe tested Suraju again with a 35th-minute effort from outside the area. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute. Igwe delivered an incisive pass from midfield to find Victor Chimezie, who drove into the penalty area before firing past Suraju to give the Flying Antelopes a deserved lead. SECOND HALF: JIMOH INSPIRES RANGERS TO HOLD ON Kwara United returned for the second half with renewed determination, enjoying more possession and putting the Rangers defence under sustained pressure as they searched for an equaliser. The visitors came close in the 58th minute when Peace Dewian's long throw was met by Alex Jerry, but Gidado Toyeeb failed to make the necessary connection to direct the ball into the net. CHIMEZIE VICTOR'S STRIKE FIRES FLYING ANTELOPES TO TOP SPOT Chimezie Victor's first-half strike proved decisive as Rangers International FC secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Kwara United FC in their Matchday 12 encounter at the Awka City Stadium. The encounter lived up to expectations, with the Flying Antelopes dominating large spells of the first half before surviving a spirited second-half response from the visitors to claim all three points. Rangers made a bright start, enjoying possession and dictating the tempo in the opening exchanges while constantly threatening the Kwara United defence. The hosts came close to taking the lead in the eighth minute when Pius Igwe delivered a well-measured cross into the area. Godwin Obaje headed the ball down into a dangerous position, but Precious Agu's effort sailed over the crossbar. The Flying Antelopes continued to pile pressure on the Harmony Boys and created another opportunity in the 12th minute. Folarin Temitope's cross found Obaje in the box, and the forward laid the ball into the path of Igwe, whose effort went over the bar. Four minutes later, Rangers threatened again after Chimezie Victor dispossessed Ferinyaro Ali on the edge of the area. Igwe found Obaje with a pass, but the striker's effort lacked the power to trouble Ayeleso Suraju, who made a comfortable save. Philip Clement tested the Kwara United goalkeeper with a long-range effort in the 19th minute, but Suraju was equal to the task. Rangers came close once more in the 21st minute when Precious Agu set up Uwana Asuquo inside the box, but Suraju made himself big to deny the right back. The visitors gradually grew into the contest and registered their first notable opportunity in the 28th minute. After Temitope lost possession in midfield, a well-weighted pass found Benjamin Jack outside the area, but his effort failed to trouble Lucky Jimoh. Kwara United won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 32nd minute, with Ferinyaro Ali stepping up to take it, but Jimoh gathered comfortably. Rangers continued to search for the breakthrough, and Pius Igwe tested Suraju again with a 35th-minute effort from outside the area. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute. Igwe delivered an incisive pass from midfield to find Victor Chimezie, who drove into the penalty area before firing past Suraju to give the Flying Antelopes a deserved lead. SECOND HALF: JIMOH INSPIRES RANGERS TO HOLD ON Kwara United returned for the second half with renewed determination, enjoying more possession and putting the Rangers defence under sustained pressure as they searched for an equaliser. The visitors came close in the 58th minute when Peace Dewian's long throw was met by Alex Jerry, but Gidado Toyeeb failed to make the necessary connection to direct the ball into the net. Two minutes later, Nnamdi Anthony tried his luck from distance, but Lucky Jimoh came to Rangers' rescue with an important save. The Harmony Boys continued to press and won another opportunity to restore parity after Gidado Toyeeb was brought down on the edge of the area. Dewian Peace took the resulting free kick, but Jimoh was again on hand to make the save. Rangers almost doubled their advantage in the 68th minute when Abo Solomon beat his marker on the edge of the area and delivered a dangerous cross, but no teammate was available to connect with the ball. The hosts threatened again moments later when Uwana Asuquo sent in a dangerous cross that Uche Jaguar almost turned into his own net, with the ball eventually finding the side netting. After a spell of passing play, Rangers created another opportunity in the 75th minute, but Pius Igwe's effort went wide. Kwara United thought they had secured an equaliser in the 78th minute when Dewian Peace's long throw found former Rangers forward Alex Jerry, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire past Jimoh. However, the goal was ruled out following an infringement spotted by the assistant referee during the build-up. The visitors continued to search for a way back into the game, with Ferinyaro Ali testing Jimoh from a free kick on the edge of the area in the 83rd minute, but the Rangers goalkeeper made another assured save. Despite the late pressure, the Flying Antelopes held firm to secure a valuable victory and another three points. FULL TIME: RANGERS INT'L FC 1–0 KWARA UNITED FC AS IT STANDS The victory takes Rangers to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League table with 24 points and a game in hand, while Kwara United remain 16th with 12 points. UP NEXT The Flying Antelopes will look to extend their winning run when they travel to Minna to face Niger Tornadoes, while Kwara United return home to host Rivers United FC.