Abuja -Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Wednesday in Abuja moved into the semi-finals of the 2015 Federation Cup competition, after beating El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri 3-0.
In the quarter-final match at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Osas Okoro gave Rangers the lead a minute before the half-time break, before Onoriode Odah’s brace sealed the game for them.
Rangers were the more adventurous of the two sides with better offensive moves, and they were rewarded when Okoro bent in a free-kick from about 20 metres out.
They returned for the second half looking better even and keeping the Warriors, who were looking bereft of offensive ideas, on the back foot most of the time.
In the 60th minute, they underlined their superiority through Odah’s first goal, when he calmly side footed past goalkeeper Richard Ocheayi after meeting a pass just inside the penalty area.
Eight minutes later, they took the match beyond El-Kanemi Warriors when Odah latched on to a crossfield pass on the right, and accelerated into the area to round advancing Ocheayi.
Coach Imama Amapakabo said his side was getting better, in spite of the impressive performance.
“We are still working to get better than this, and I can assure you that we will be better very soon. But right now, we are a team that is trudging on hopeful of winning the Federation Cup,’’ he said.
The former Sharks FC goalkeeper said his side overwhelmed their opponents with better tactics and the desire to end the season with a silverware.
“We had better tactics, and surprised them in so many ways. Moreover, we are determined to end up among those with trophies this season,’’ he said.
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On his part, coach Munir Abdulazeez said El-Kanemi Warriors were undone by fatigue and missed chances.
“The first half of the game was balanced, and we had scoring chances we could not convert.
“But they converted theirs, especially in the second half, and by the time fatigue took its toll on us, there was nothing we could do again,’’ he said.
In other Federation Cup matches, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi beat non-league side BJ Foundation of Benin 2-1 in Lokoja.
Nasarawa United FC of Lafia beat FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi 1-0 in Ilorin, while Akwa United of Uyo beat Niger Tornadoes Feeders 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in Makurdi.
In the women’s competition of the Federation Cup, defending champions Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt were eliminated 2-1 by Confluence Queens of Lokoja.
Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa were 2-0 winners over Edo Queens of Benin, Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia beat Osun Babes of Osogbo 3-1.
Sunshine Queens of Akure on their part defeated FC Robo of Lagos 2-0 in Oleh.(NAN)