2026/2027 Euromatch NPFL Match Day 7: Rangers, Abia Warriors Renew Oriental Rivalry in Awka

Posted : 04 October 2026

Rangers International of Enugu will put their position at the top of the 2026/2027 Euromatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table on the line when they face Abia Warriors in an Oriental derby at the Awka City Stadium on Sunday.

The Flying Antelopes enter the encounter with renewed confidence after returning to winning ways in their rescheduled midweek fixture against Warri Wolves.

Rangers secured a 1-0 victory at the Delta State Polytechnic following their previous league defeat to Ikorodu City at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.

The result lifted the defending champions to the summit and set the stage for another demanding South-East contest against an Abia Warriors side also arriving with confidence.

The Warriors produced their first home victory of the campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Bendel Insurance 3-0 to move into the weekend fixture with renewed belief.

Coach Imama Amapakabo will therefore expect his players to build on that performance as they seek to close the gap on the teams above them and claim bragging rights against their regional rivals.

Recent meetings between the two clubs have produced a closely fought rivalry, with Rangers recording three victories in their last six encounters, compared with two wins for Abia Warriors, while the remaining fixture ended in a draw.

Sunday’s contest will also see Rangers continue their search for a settled home venue following the ongoing renovation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The champions began the season with a home fixture at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta before moving to the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, where they hosted their last two home matches.

They will now welcome Abia Warriors to the Awka City Stadium for their latest home assignment.

The change of venue could provide a different setting for the Oriental derby, but the stakes remain high for both sides.

Rangers will be seeking another victory to retain their position among the early leaders, while Abia Warriors will aim to translate their 3-0 triumph over Bendel Insurance into another positive result on the road.

With local bragging rights, league points and contrasting ambitions at stake, the encounter promises another competitive chapter in the rivalry between the two South-East clubs.

The Matchday Seven fixture will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Awka City Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

2026/2027 Euromatch NPFL Match Day 7: Rangers, Abia Warriors Renew Oriental Rivalry in Awka

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