Flying Antelopes edge Ikorodu City in Lagos to become 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League champions.
Rangers International F.C. have been crowned champions of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League season after a nervy 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City F.C. on the final day of the campaign.
The famous Flying Antelopes secured their record ninth NPFL crown at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Sunday, capping off a remarkable season under coach Fidelis Ilechukwu.
Captain Chidiebere Nwobodo emerged the hero for Rangers, scoring in both halves to hand the Enugu side a crucial win in one of the most dramatic NPFL title races in recent years. The midfielder opened scoring in the 30th minute before adding another shortly after the restart to put Rangers firmly in control.
Ikorodu City responded through substitute Moses Ali in the second half after a goalkeeping error from Lucky Jimoh, setting up a tense finale in Lagos. However, Rangers held firm to secure the victory that confirmed them as champions of Nigeria once again.
The result saw Rangers finish the season with 68 points from 38 matches, narrowly ahead of Rivers United F.C., who defeated Katsina United F.C. 3-0 but still fell short in the title race.
The triumph represents Rangers’ second NPFL title in three seasons and further strengthens their status as one of the most successful clubs in Nigerian football history. The Enugu-based side had previously won league titles in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016 and 2024 before adding the 2026 crown to their illustrious cabinet.
Coach Ilechukwu has now etched his name into Rangers folklore after guiding the club through a fiercely competitive campaign that went down to the final day. The tactical discipline, resilience and consistency displayed by the Flying Antelopes throughout the season proved decisive in their successful “Mission 9” quest.
Celebrations erupted across Enugu immediately after the final whistle as fans hailed another historic achievement for one of Nigeria’s most iconic football institutions. The latest triumph also guarantees Rangers a return to continental football next season, where they will hope to replicate their domestic success on the African stage.
For Nigerian football lovers searching for the latest NPFL champions news, Enugu Rangers’ historic ninth title will go down as one of the defining moments of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League season.