In a gripping tournament encounter at St. Patrick's College, Emene, Noble Boys Football Club faced off against Rangers International U-19 on 4th November 2024. The match kicked off at 4:00pm and concluded with a scoreline of 2-0 in favour of the Rangers, marking a challenging outing for the Noble Boys.
Noble Boys adopted a 4-1-3-2 formation, which saw ThankGod Eneh stationed in goal, flanked by a solid back four comprising Afam Okolo on the right, Kosi Maduka and Godwin Peter in central defence, and Jeremiah Ogbu on the left. Obinna Uju played a pivotal role as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack. Ahead of him, the midfield trio featured Henry Obetta on the right, Chijioke Adoke in a central attacking role, and Collins Nnamani on the left. Up front, Tochukwu Gideon and Miracle Eneh formed a dynamic forward partnership, expected to exploit any defensive lapses from the opposition.
As the match unfolded, Noble Boys struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organised Rangers side. The first half saw both teams probing for openings, but it was the Rangers who took control of the game. The Noble Boys' defence, while resolute, faced constant pressure from the Rangers' attacking players, who were quick to exploit any space.
The first half concluded without any goals, with both teams heading into the break at 0-0. Noble Boys would have hoped to regroup and come out stronger in the second half, but the Rangers had other plans.
Upon resuming, the Rangers quickly found their stride and began to assert their dominance. The breakthrough came shortly after the restart, as the Rangers capitalised on a slack in the midfield strength which ended up in putting more pressure on the defense of Noble Boys. A swift counter-attack saw the Rangers' forward slot the ball past ThankGod Eneh, sending their supporters into raptures and putting Noble Boys on the back foot.
With the score now 1-0, Noble Boys were forced to push forward in search of an equaliser. However, this left them vulnerable at the back, and the Rangers took full advantage. A second goal soon followed, as the Rangers' attacking midfielder found space in the box and finished clinically with a nod, doubling their lead and leaving Noble Boys with a mountain to climb.
Despite the setback, Noble Boys continued to fight, with Obinna Uju attempting to orchestrate play from midfield. However, the Rangers' defence held firm, thwarting any attempts to penetrate their lines. As the clock ticked down, Noble Boys struggled to create clear-cut chances having the likes of Jeremiah Ogbu, Izuchukwu Eze making good runs into the box with the balland trying to net the ball but were missed. Tochukwu Gideon got a chance but was knocked down due to delay in the box, the kick was ignored by the referee which got the whole bench of Noble Boys on their feet with screams. The match ended with the Rangers celebrating a well-deserved victory. After the final whistle, Godwin Peter got a red card from the referee due to a situation that cannot be explained.
The referee's performance was commendable, contributing to a well-managed match that allowed the players to showcase their skills. Noble Boys will need to reflect on this defeat and regroup as they look ahead to their next challenge, while Rangers International U-19 will take great confidence from this impressive display.
