Niger Tornadoes FC, led by their head coach Abubakar Bala, put up an impressive performance to earn a 2-2 away draw against Rangers on Sunday. The team looked to be struggling after conceding two goals in the first half, but they made a stunning comeback in the second half, scoring two goals through Munir Idris.
The draw was a significant boost to the Minna club’s chances of earning a slot in the Super Six, which is the final stage of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Speaking to the club’s media after the match, Coach Bala expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and their prospects for the remainder of the season.
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“Of course, a point is a plus, especially coming on the road,” said Bala. “Our ambition for the season is to be among the qualifiers for the Super Six, and this result has given us a real chance to achieve that goal.”
Despite the positive result, Bala made it clear that the team would not rest on their laurels and would continue to work hard to achieve their objectives. “We will not relax and will not relent,” he said. “We will keep pushing until we achieve our aim.”
The match against Rangers was a closely contested affair, with both teams showing their attacking prowess. However, it was the Rangers who took the lead in the 23rd minute when Chinonso Eziekwe found the back of the net. The home team doubled their advantage six minutes later through Israel Abia, leaving Tornadoes with a mountain to climb.
The second half, however, saw a different Tornadoes side take to the field, with the team pressing high and creating several scoring opportunities. Their efforts were rewarded in the 53rd minute when Munir Idris scored his first goal of the game, reducing the deficit to one.
The equalizer came in the 82nd minute when Idris struck again, much to the delight of the Tornadoes fans who had made the long journey to Enugu. The away team continued to push for a winner in the closing stages of the match but was unable to find the back of the net.
The draw against Rangers means that Tornadoes remain in contention for a place in the Super Six, with just a few matches left to play in the NPFL. The team currently sits in fifth place in the league table, just two points behind fourth-placed Rivers United.
Tornadoes’ next match is against Sunshine Stars, another team in contention for a place in the Super Six. The match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, and Bala will be hoping that his team can build on their impressive performance against Rangers and secure all three points.
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The NPFL has been highly competitive this season, with several teams in contention for the title and a place in the Super Six. Tornadoes have shown that they are a team to be reckoned with and will be looking to maintain their momentum in the remaining matches of the season. If they can continue to perform at the level they showed against the Rangers, they could well be among the qualifiers for the Super Six come to the end of the season.
