2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 38: Shooting Stars to play last home game against arch rival, Rangers, behind closed doors

Posted : 25 May 2025

Having seen its 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season melt right in front of them, Shooting Stars SC of Ibadan will welcome their archrival and longstanding foe, Rangers International FC, to their den at the Lekan Salami Stadium, albeit in a closed-door encounter.

It is surprising to see how the Oluyole Warriors’ season has crumbled, falling from the top of the league to mid-table on 51 points.

Notwithstanding, the clash between Shooting Stars SC of Ibadan and Rangers International FC is arguably one of the oldest rivalries in the Nigerian league, as both teams meet once again on Sunday.

It has been a topsy-turvy rivalry since the days of Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, and Best Ogedegbe against Christian Chukwu and Emmanuel Okala, to name a few.

This rivalry has spanned over 25 years, and this season is the first in many that both are contesting together at the top of the league table.

For Gbenga Ogunbote, it will be a meeting against his former side, as he managed Rangers between 2017 and 2019, during which time he won the FA Cup title with them.

In the last 16 encounters, Rangers have recorded six wins, lost five times, and drawn five. Rangers defeated Shooting Stars 2-0 the last time they met.

However, the Oluyole Warriors, in the first match of the season, broke the jinx of not being able to beat the Flying Antelopes in front of their home fans for 20 years.

So, it was not just the only away win of the season but also the first time Shooting Stars beat Rangers away from home in over 20 years.

Having broken the jinx, Gbenga Ogunbote will hope to build on that success with another win, while Rangers International FC coach Stanley Eguma will want to seek revenge.

Head to head:
Shooting Stars have won 6 direct matches, Enugu Rangers have won 7, and 6 matches have ended in a draw.

Shooting Stars vs Enugu Rangers last 5 matches:
22/12/2024: Enugu Rangers 0-1 Shooting Stars
12/06/2024: Shooting Stars 1-0 Enugu Rangers
28/12/2023: Enugu Rangers 2-0 Shooting Stars
02/07/2022: Enugu Rangers 2-2 Shooting Stars
02/03/2022: Shooting Stars 1-1 Enugu Rangers
09/07/2017: Enugu Rangers 1-1 Shooting Stars
22/03/2017: Shooting Stars 1-0 Enugu Rangers

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 38: Shooting Stars to play last home game against arch rival, Rangers, behind closed doors

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