Head coach of Enugu Rangers, Imama Amapakabo, has claimed that seven of his players did not turn up, as they lost 2-1 to Abia Warriors on Sunday.
The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, began their title defence in the worst possible way, losing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in front of their fans.
New signing Fortune Omoniwari gave the Flying Antelopes the lead in the 10th minute.
But Emeka Isaac’s deflected effort levelled the game in the 22nd minute. Godwin Zaki gave Warriors all three points with a penalty in the second half.
“When the game started, we had about seven players that did not come to the party,” Amapakabo told npfl.ng.
“So when you have up to seven players that are not up there, and these are same players that few months ago were champions of Nigeria, we managed to hope as best as possible that the result would come at the end of the day (but it did not).”
Rangers travel to Nasarawa United this midweek and will be hoping to bounce back.
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