Rangers International Technical Adviser Fidelis Ilechukwu has praised his players’ resilience and fighting spirit after the Flying Antelopes battled back to secure a dramatic 2-2 away draw against Barau FC in Kano during Matchday 8 of the EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The experienced tactician described the encounter as an important lesson in determination, insisting that his players demonstrated the character required to compete under difficult circumstances.

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Rangers appeared destined for defeat after surrendering their first-half advantage, but a stoppage-time equaliser ensured the Enugu-based club returned home with a valuable point.

Speaking during his post-match assessment, Ilechukwu expressed satisfaction with his team’s refusal to surrender despite the challenges encountered during the game, Sports247 gathered.

“It’s a great game. Today teaches us that we don’t have to give up. When we were a goal down, we rallied together and got a point away from home,” Ilechukwu said.

Rangers took the lead in the 38th minute through Ifeanyi Okechukwu, putting the visitors in a promising position heading into the interval.

However, Barau FC responded strongly after the restart, with Joseph Atule converting a penalty in the 56th minute to restore parity.

The hosts completed their turnaround in the 68th minute when Aliyu Sugau converted another spot-kick, putting Rangers under pressure as the contest approached its closing stages.

With time running out, Rangers continued searching for an equaliser, and their persistence eventually paid off.

Chidiebere Nwobodo emerged as the visitors’ hero, scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to rescue a point and deny Barau FC a home victory.

Ilechukwu Reacts to Controversial Penalty Decisions

The two penalties awarded to Barau FC became a major talking point following the encounter.

However, Ilechukwu declined to directly criticise the officiating, acknowledging that the referee had the authority to make decisions during the match.

“I’m not the referee. It’s not my duty, but the referee has the final say on the penalties awarded to the home team,” he explained.

His response reflected a measured approach to the decisions, with the Rangers boss choosing instead to focus on his players’ determination to recover from a difficult situation

Beyond the result, Ilechukwu revealed that Rangers’ continental commitments and the absence of several important players had affected his team’s preparations.

According to the technical adviser, injuries and fatigue prevented some key members of the squad from travelling for the encounter.

“We have to face continental games. Some of our top players couldn’t be here because of injuries and fatigue, but the players available tried their best to secure an away draw,” he said.

The demanding schedule has placed additional pressure on the Rangers squad, making rotation and player recovery important considerations as the season progresses. Nevertheless, Ilechukwu was encouraged by the commitment displayed by those who featured against Barau FC.

Although Rangers were unable to secure maximum points, the dramatic nature of their comeback provided encouragement for the technical crew.

Recovering from a 2-1 deficit to claim a draw in stoppage time demonstrated the determination Ilechukwu wants his players to maintain throughout the campaign.

For Barau FC, the result represented a missed opportunity to secure all three points after overturning Rangers’ early advantage.

For the Flying Antelopes, however, the encounter reinforced the importance of persistence, particularly when facing difficult away assignments.

Ilechukwu’s message was unmistakable: regardless of injuries, fixture congestion or controversial decisions, Rangers must continue fighting until the final whistle.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a fake online publication claiming to be a special announcement on governorship candidates in six states.

Politics Nigeria reports that the commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano.

It urged members of the public to disregard the publication and rely on its verified communication channels for electoral information.

INEC said the publication did not originate from the commission and described it as fraudulent.

“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement partly read.

“INEC therefore urges members of the public to disregard the fraudulent publication and refrain from sharing it.”

The commission’s warning comes amid concerns over the omission of several candidates from its final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.

In Kano State, the Kwankwassiyya Movement has vowed to engage INEC over the omission of Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy governorship candidate, and his principal, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the final list.

Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the movement, said the omissions came as a shock, insisting that the candidates had met the requirements for registration.

Speaking on Arise Television, Mohammed said the movement would explore the legal provisions available to candidates whose names were omitted from the commission’s list.

“It came as a shock because there had been no issue with INEC. Kwankwas, a former deputy governor, is registered with the NDC and met the stipulated deadline,” he said.

He added that electoral provisions allow affected candidates 14 days to seek redress over omissions from the list.

“We will explore that opportunity and engage with INEC,” Mohammed said.

The spokesperson maintained that the movement was unaware of any court judgment or order that could have justified the omission.

He expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through engagement with the commission and the available legal procedures.

The NDC has also described the omission as an error and said it is seeking a correction.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also begun engaging INEC over the omission of its governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the party was working towards an amicable resolution in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.

He assured affected candidates, members and supporters that the party was treating the matter seriously and would communicate further developments when necessary.

The PDP also urged those affected to remain calm and exercise patience while discussions with the commission continued.

This was just as the party warned against actions or statements that could undermine the ongoing engagements with INEC, stressing its commitment to addressing the concerns through lawful means.

INEC released its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections on Saturday.

The list, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and published on its website, contained 13 candidates in Ogun State and 16 in Gombe State, with no PDP candidate listed in either state.

Among those omitted were Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State, and Isa Ali Pantami, the party’s candidate in Gombe State.