It is a potential season-defining game for both Enyimba of Aba and their hosts, Enugu Rangers, with the winner of the game on Sunday at the Cathedral assuming leadership of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Rangers currently lead the NPFL table with 61 points from 34 games, while Enyimba are second with 59 points.
A draw could pave the way for third-placed Remo Stars, who currently have same 59 points as Enyimba, to overtake the duo with three matches to the end of the season.
Aware of the crucial nature of the game to his team’s aspirations, Enyimba Head Coach, Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju, is upbeat that the Peoples Elephant will emerge triumphant on Sunday.
Olanrewaju said that although he respects Rangers Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, as a senior colleague, “but everyone has to defend his club and try to get the job done.”
Yemi said the matchday 35 clash would be a tough game and potential title decider, while acknowledging that, on paper, Rangers are the favorites.
He said: “I don’t think I know them much. The way they started the season is not the way they are playing now and the formation is also different with some changes in personnel.”
When Enyimba hosted the Flying Antelopes in Aba, the game ended in a draw, but Olanrewaju said that many things have changed since the first game.
“If the NPFL had not deducted two points from us, we would have been on the same number with Rangers by now. But we are not dwelling on that. Our focus is on making the best of the remaining games to defend our title.”
Olanrewaju, who is one of the country’s emerging young coaching talents, was promoted to Enyimba’s head coach following Finidi George’s appointment as Super Eagles manager.
Barely five years into the coaching profession, Olanrewaju said it is a great honour to handle as club as big as Enyimba in a city where the club is hugely loved and expected to return laurels every season.
