Fixtures

Nigeria Premier League 09/14 15:00 4 Kano Pillars vs Enugu Rangers - View

Results

Nigeria Premier League 09/07 15:00 3 Enugu Rangers v Plateau United W 2-0
Nigeria Premier League 08/31 15:00 2 Warri Wolves FC v Enugu Rangers L 2-0
Nigeria Premier League 08/24 15:00 1 [3] Enugu Rangers Intl FC v Kun Khalifat FC [3] D 0-0
Nigeria Premier League 05/25 15:00 38 Shooting Stars v Enugu Rangers L 5-1
Nigeria Cup 05/21 15:00 - Kwara United v Enugu Rangers Intl FC L 1-0
Nigeria Premier League 05/11 14:00 37 Enugu Rangers v Katsina Utd W 4-0
Nigeria Premier League 05/07 15:00 36 Rivers United v Enugu Rangers L 1-0
Nigeria Premier League 04/27 15:00 35 Enugu Rangers v Enyimba L 1-2
Nigeria Premier League 04/19 15:00 34 Lobi Stars FC v Enugu Rangers W 2-4
Nigeria Cup 04/16 15:00 - Bendel Insurance v Enugu Rangers Intl FC W 0-1
Nigeria Premier League 04/13 14:00 33 [6] Enugu Rangers Intl FC v Heartland FC [17] L 0-2
Nigeria Premier League 04/05 16:30 32 Bendel Insurance v Enugu Rangers D 0-0

Stats

 TotalHomeAway
Matches played 43 20 23
Wins 16 12 4
Draws 10 2 8
Losses 17 6 11
Goals for 45 32 13
Goals against 40 16 24
Clean sheets 21 11 10
Failed to score 17 4 13

Rangers International Football Club, commonly known as Enugu Rangers, is a Nigerian professional association football club founded in 1970. Based in Enugu, the team plays its home games at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

Rangers are one of the oldest clubs in Nigeria and are the only club never to have been relegated from the Nigeria Premier League. Established after the Nigerian Civil War, they quickly became successful, winning multiple league and FA Cup titles in the 1970s and 1980s.

Internationally, Rangers reached the finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1975 and won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977. More recently, they secured league titles in 2016 and 2024. The club is nicknamed the Flying Antelopes and maintains a passionate 10 million fan base.

History

The 1970s

Enugu Rangers won a nationally organized tournament in 1970 which allowed them to qualify for the 1971 African Cup of Champions Clubs. Rangers lost in the quarterfinal 0–3 on aggregate to ASEC Mimosas.

In the same year, they almost achieved domestic success in the Nigerian FA Cup cup as well, but lost the final 2–1 to Shooting Stars F.C.

After winning the 1974 double, including a 2–0 cup final win over Mighty Jets, the Enugu players were given cars and promotions at the Nigerian Sports Council.

Rangers lost the 1975 African Cup of Champions Clubs to Guinea's Hafia FC, earning left-back Silvanus Okpala the nickname "Hafia" for his poor play in the final. Enugu had overturned a 3–1 defeat in Egypt in the semifinal to qualify for the final. Founding Ranger Ernest Ufele retired after the defeat.

In 1977, the club, now managed by their first-ever captain, Godwin Achebe, faced ASF Police of Dakar in the quarterfinals. Held to a goalless draw at home, Rangers took the lead twenty minutes into the second half of the away leg, silencing the Senegal stadium, and eventually winning the match 2–1. After the game ended, team members were physically assaulted by Senegalese fans, according to Nigerian press reports, and three were stabbed. A military plane was flown to Dakar to evacuate the victors.

The 1977 semi-finals set up one of the greatest ties in Nigerian football history as Rangers were drawn against Shooting Stars. Rangers would go on to defeat Canon Yaounde 5–2 on aggregate in the final, including a 4–1 win on Nigerian soil.

During this time period, Rangers boasted a number of Nigerian national team players such as Christian Chukwu, goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala Aloysius Atuegbu and Luke Jaz Bucana Okpala.

The 1980s

Led by coach Christian Chukwu, Enugu Rangers won the 1983 Nigerian Cup, defeating DIC Bees of Kaduna 5–4 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.

Rangers won their sixth title in 1984 with a number of players who had led Nigeria to the 1980 African Cup of Nations. Louis Igwilo captained the team.

The 1990s: lean years

Rangers joined the new fully professional league in 1990 and made cup final that year, losing to Stationery Stores on 5–4 on penalty kicks. They would not make another cup final appearance in the decade, and sadly their best league finish was third place in 1998.

The 2000s

Rangers topped the table after the 2001 home and away season but finished bottom of the four-team championship playoff group.

Enugu Rangers made the group stage of the 2004 CAF Confederation Cup and missed out on winning the group and making the final after losing a head-to-head tiebreaker to Asante Kotoko. Rangers drew 0–0 against Angola's Petro de Luanda and celebrated, thinking they had advanced on goal difference, but the first tiebreaker was head-to-head.

In the 2005 season, Rangers finished as Runners-up in the league, five points off eventual champions Enyimba.

In 2008–09, they played some games in nearby Abakaliki and Nnewi as their stadium was renovated for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Before the season started, Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime paid the backlog of sign-on fees dating to three years ago and all other debts owed the players.

In November 2008, Rangers became the first Nigerian club side to be a public company and sell ownership stock. However the deal fell through, and the club began the 2009 season in debt. The club is currently owned by the state government.

Enugu did begin a 12-year run of success in a minor trophy, the local state FA Cup, which they won every year from 2005 to 2017.

2016–current: Success again

After a 2015 season which nearly saw them relegated, Enugu won the 2016 Nigeria Premier League, their first championship since 1982. Their closest challengers Rivers United needed Enugu to lose on the final day of the season, but Rangers won their game against El-Kanemi Warriors 4–0 to win the championship.

2017 saw Enugu struggle, dropping into the relegation zone halfway through the season. They recovered, finishing 14th and keeping alive their record of never being relegated from the top flight.

The club went on to win their first Nigerian Cup in 35 years in 2018. Rangers stunned Kano Pillars, coming back from a 3–0 deficit to win the trophy on penalties. Ajani Ibrahim scored on a diving header two minutes into stoppage time to tie the game 3–3. Rangers played in the final five times from 1987 to 2007, never winning once.

In the first championship playoff clash on Wednesday, June 13, 2019, Enugu Rangers defeated FC IfeanyiUbah 4–2 in a six-goal thriller to secure a CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

Many Nigerians remember with fondness watching Enugu Rangers play in the 1970s and 1980s.

On matchday 35 of the 2023-24 edition of the NPFL, 44,000 people showed up for a game between Rangers International and rivals Enyimba FC at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, the best-attended match in the NPFL during that football season. On 16th June 2024 under coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, Rangers won the 2023/2024 NPFL championship title after defeating Bendel Insurance by 2-0 with a game to play, this extended their league title wins to 8. Their success has been extended to other national trophies and championship. They have won 5 times between the year 1974 - 1983.

Enugu Rangers International Football Club, commonly referred to as Enugu Rangers, is one of Nigeria's most storied and successful football clubs, based in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State. Founded in 1970, the club has a rich history and a passionate fan base, often referred to as the "Flying Antelopes."

Enugu Rangers competes in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and has a reputation for producing and nurturing local talent. The team's colors are predominantly green and white, symbolizing their connection to the lush landscapes of Enugu State. The club's home matches are played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, which boasts a vibrant atmosphere, especially during local derbies and crucial league encounters.

Over the years, Enugu Rangers has achieved significant success, winning multiple league titles and domestic cups, including the prestigious Nigeria FA Cup. The club is known for its attacking style of play and has a history of fierce rivalries, particularly with teams like Heartland FC and Abia Warriors.

Enugu Rangers is not just a football club; it represents the pride and spirit of the Enugu community. The team's commitment to excellence on the pitch, combined with its dedication to community engagement and youth development, makes it a cornerstone of Nigerian football. With a legacy of champions and a vision for the future, Enugu Rangers continues to strive for greatness in both domestic and continental competitions.