2025/2026 NPFL Match Day 25 Review: 10-man Rangers Hold Abia Warriors to Goalless Draw in Aba

Posted : 09 February 2026

Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia were forced to a goalless draw by visiting Enugu Rangers International in the Matchday 25 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League, decided at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

Owing to the massive renovation work going on at the Umuahia Township Stadium, the Warriors have now shifted base to the Enyimba International Stadium for their home games.

The game lived up to its billing as a true Oriental derby, as spectators sat at the edges of their seats watching the thrilling, exciting, and intriguing game.

The Warriors' gaffer, Imama Amapakabo, made three changes to the squad that played in the last away fixture against Katsina United, with Ali Ishaku, Suraj Lawal, and Somiari Alalibo taking the places of Odah Okiemute, Maxwell Kangeshima, and Shedrack Asiegbu, respectively.

It was a cagey affair at the beginning of proceedings, but the hosts gradually grew into the game. However, the first half ended goalless as chances were few and far between.

The early stages of the second period saw the visitors having more possession, but the hosts reacted quickly to pile pressure, which culminated in a red card for Rangers' Chigozie Iwundu for a foul on rampaging Chukwuemeka Obioma.

An enterprising play by the Warriors in the 58th minute saw Casmir Azubuike send a defence-splitting pass to Obioma in the final third to put him through on goal, but Iwundu read the danger and brought him down as he was about to pull the trigger, and the centre referee rightly issued him a red card, as he was the last man.

The resultant free kick taken by Obioma himself hit the side netting, to the relief of the visitors.

The introduction of Chindi Merpring for Paul Samson could have had an immediate impact, as Merpring, just two minutes into his introduction, squared a dangerous cross into the vital area of the visitors, only for a lucky header by the Rangers defence to clear the ball for a corner, with Suraj lying in wait for a kill.

The hosts were very much on the ascendancy now, but failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority, with Suraj Lawal going close to scoring on different occasions, but desperate defending from the visitors kept him at bay.

Nonetheless, the hosts thought they had won the match when, in the last minute of the five minutes of additional time signalled by the fourth official, Obioma put the ball into the net.

The Warriors' leading goalscorer, who had troubled the visitors' defence for the most part, was put through on goal by Chindi Merpring after a magnificent play by the hosts, and the 2023 league top scorer made no mistake as he blasted the ball into the net with his left foot, but the ecstasy that greeted the strike soon evaporated when the second Assistant Referee raised his flag for offside, much to the consternation of the Warriors' bench and spectators.

Up next for Abia Warriors is an away tie against defending champions, Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne.

2025/2026 NPFL Match Day 25 Review: 10-man Rangers Hold Abia Warriors to Goalless Draw in Aba

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