Rangers Edge Ikorodu City to Clinch Historic Ninth NPFL Title

Posted : 25 May 2026

Rangers International FC have been crowned champions of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City FC on the final day at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

The dramatic win secured the Flying Antelopes their ninth league title, drawing them level with Enyimba FC as the most successful clubs in NPFL history.

Going into Matchday 38, Rangers topped the table with 65 points, just one point ahead of Rivers United FC, setting up a tense title race finale. Both sides needed maximum points to stand a realistic chance of lifting the trophy.

While Rivers United delivered a convincing 3-0 win over Katsina United FC in Port Harcourt, all attention shifted to Lagos where Rangers faced a determined Ikorodu City side still pushing for continental qualification.

Rangers struck first in the 30th minute through captain Chidiebere Nwobodo, who produced a superb curling finish to silence the home crowd and give his side the advantage.

Nwobodo doubled the lead shortly after the restart, reacting quickest to a rebound inside the box to put Rangers in control at 2-0.

Ikorodu City, also known as the Oga Boys, responded strongly and pulled one back in the 58th minute through substitute Moses Ali, setting up a nervy finish.

However, Rangers held firm under sustained pressure in the closing stages to protect their lead and secure the championship.

Speaking after the match, Rangers Technical Adviser Fidelis Ilechukwu praised his team’s resilience and composure under pressure, noting their ability to deliver when it mattered most. He also celebrated winning his second league title with the club following their 2024 triumph.

The title-deciding fixture attracted top football stakeholders, including the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, and NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, who commended the competitiveness of the season.

At full-time, jubilant Rangers supporters who travelled from Enugu flooded the pitch in celebration as the players lifted the trophy amid chants and a sea of red-and-black colours.

The victory secures Rangers a place in next season’s CAF Champions League alongside Rivers United, while also confirming Nigeria’s representatives for the CAF Confederation Cup.

For Rangers, this latest triumph further strengthens their status as one of Nigeria’s football powerhouses and reignites their historic rivalry with Enyimba ahead of the new season.

Rangers Edge Ikorodu City to Clinch Historic Ninth NPFL Title

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