Abia Warriors Head Coach, Imama Amapakabo, says his team’s 3-1 away defeat to Rangers International in Sunday’s 2026/2027 Euromatch–NPFL Matchday 8 fixture at the Awka City Stadium was self-inflicted, Completesports.com reports. The 2015/2016 title-winning gaffer with Rangers also said defensive complacency and wastefulness in the final third contributed to the defeat. Godwin Obaje put Rangers in the driving seat before the break with a headed effort in the 37th minute.
It was his 101st goal in the domestic football league. Captain Chidiebere Nwobodo doubled the Coal City Flying Antelopes’ lead four minutes after the break, but Chukwuemeka Obioma halved the deficit in the 52nd minute from the spot after a Rangers defender had been adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
Also Read: EUROMATCH NPFL: ‘Thanks For Donating The Three Points’ — Rangers Mock Abia Warriors After Derby Win But as Warriors encamped inside the Rangers area, probing for a possible equaliser, Daniel Monday struck on the counter in stoppage time to increase Rangers’ lead to 3-1.
The 57-year-old Amapakabo told reporters during a post-match press conference that a host of factors contributed to his team’s defeat, despite the obvious fact that they had far better opportunities in the pulsating clash. “I think it was a good and entertaining game. But we lost the game ourselves,” the former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach began. “In the course of the game, we created far better chances. “But we were so complacent in defence.
We got punished every time we lost concentration.” Amapakabo felt the scoreline could have been different if the referee had taken a different and correct decision earlier in the game. In the fourth minute, Abia Warriors forward Ikoi Ettah was through on goal but was brought down on the edge of the area by a frantic Rangers