Four takeaways from Niger Tornadoes vs Rangers International

I was at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Sunday for a Match Day 16 game between Niger Tornadoes and Rangers.

It wasn't the best game I've ever watched but it was a good way to spend 90 minutes. I won't bother y'all with the match report but this is what I deduced from the game.

Pacy wing play does it for Tornadoes.

Tornadoes coach Hamza Abarra started with John Kim at the tip of a three pong attack and he was supported from the flanks by Bashar Ahmad and Ibrahim Babawo.

 That combination was a problem for the Okey Odita led Rangers defence as Tornadoes tore at them consistently using the wings where Babawo and Ahmad flourished like a British summer.

The duo ran the wings well and were a constant menace throughout the game and it was Babawo that eventually got the only goal of the game in the 17th minute. 

Tornadoes look like continuing in that format as Ammar Abdulkarim, another winger came in to add pep to the attack, created more problems for Rangers.

Reuben Ogbonnaya is a problem.



No, I don't mean a bad problem, far from that.

The former El-Kanemi Warriors centre-back is gradually making a name for himself with his ferocious free-kicks and set-piece delivery.

He doesn't curl them in like a certain Ikechukwu Igbenebu. Ogbonnaya is all about power-packing bullets behind his shots. 

Rangers goalkeeper Nana Bonsu felt the full force of Ogbonnaya's bombs twice in the game and on one occasion, spilled the ball which Ibrahim Babawo profited from to score the only goal of the game.

Expect to see more of these in the coming games.

Okey Odita still has it.

I know this won't be a popular opinion but Odita has convinced me he still   has left in those thunder thighs of his.

The Rangers captain has refused to be played out of the park despite his many years in the league. 

He has just refused to go away. The leader of the Antelope Army, guardian of Enugu Gates and Key-Holder to

'Cathedral', this veteran has gotten better with age like the proverbial wine. 

Despite his apparent lack of pace, he made up with fantastic positioning and awareness to help keep the scoreline at a respectable figure.

Odita won 85 percent of all the aerial balls that came into the Rangers box as well as covering up for Tope Olusesi any-time the right back bombed forward to initiate a Rangers attack.

A leader at the back for Rangers, he has shown he is ready to let go of the game he said he

loves dearly.

Andrew Ikefe is Mr Versatile-



The Tornadoes centre-back played in defensive midfield against Rangers and shone like a million stars with grit and graft. Ikefe is usually at the heart of the Tornadoes defence but coach Hamza opted to start with three centre-backs- Austin Igenepo, Reuben Ogbonnaya and Sunday Akinmoladun.

 Hussaini Isah played as a wing-back which meant Tornadoes needed an enforcer in the middle. Ikefe answered the call and did it with great aplomb. 

He then reverted to centre-back momentarily when Ogbonnaya was off the field. His dexterity saw him also venture forward to support the attack and had two chances to score.

Despite insisting he prefers to play in the centre of defence, it won't be wrong to suggest to him to consider a permanent defensive midfield role.

He was that good in the position.