History
The 1970s
Enugu Rangers won a nationally organised tournament in 1970 which allowed them to qualify for the 1971 African Cup of Champions Clubs.[6] Rangers lost in the quarterfinal rounds, 0–3 on aggregate to ASEC Mimosas.[7]
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.[8]
After winning the 1974 double, including a 2–0 cup final win over Mighty Jets, the Enugu players were given promotions at the Nigerian Sports Council and cars.[9][10]
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.[11] 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.[10]
In 1977, the club, now managed by their first-ever captain, Godwin Achebe, [12] 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.[13] A military plane was flown to Dakar to evacuate the victors.[12]
The 1977 semi-finals set up one of the greatest ties in Nigerian football history as Enugu were drawn against Shooting Stars.[14] 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[15] and Aloysius Atuegbu.[14]
The 1980s
Led by coach Christian Chukwu, Enugu won the 1983 Nigerian Cup, defeating DIC Bees of Kaduna 5–4 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.[16][17][9]
Rangers won their sixth title in 1984 with a number of players who had led Nigeria to the 1980 African Cup of Nations.[18][19] Louis Igwilo captained the team.[20]
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.[21] They would not make another cup final appearance in the decade, and their best league finish was third in 1998.[22]
The 2000s
Enugu topped the table after the 2001 home and away season but finished bottom of the four-team championship playoff group.[23]
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.[24]
In the 2005 season, Rangers finished as Runners-up in the league, five points off eventual champions Enyimba.[25]
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 clubside to be a public company and sell ownership stock.[26] However the deal fell through, and the club began the 2009 season in debt.[27] The club is currently owned by the state government.[5]
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.[28]
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.[29] 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.[30][31]
2017 saw Enugu struggle, dropping into the relegation zone halfway through the season.[5] They recovered, finishing 14th and keeping alive their streak of never being relegated from the top flight.
The club went on to win their first Nigerian Cup in 35 years in 2018.[32] 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.[33] Rangers played in the final five times from 1987 to 2007, never winning once.[5]
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.[34]
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