Enugu Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has blamed his team’s inability to take their chances for the 2-1 defeat to Enyimba in a matchday 35 encounter in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The defending champions lost the Oriental derby to Enyimba at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday.
Innocent Gabriel, and Ekene Awazie scored for the People’s Elephants, while Chidozie Okorie scored the only goal for Rangers.
Rangers won the NPFL title last season but they have struggled for consistency this year to occupy the sixth position on the log.
Ilechukwu expressed his disappointment with their performance against Enyimba which denied them the opportunity to move up on the table.
He said: “It was not the result we wanted, but football showed itself again.
“We had a bad first half where we let in two goals but came back stronger in the second stanza, got a goal back but failed to convert more chances that were created.
“It’s a painful loss, and we grieve over the loss.”
The defeat was Rangers’ sixth home loss of the season following defeats to Kano Pillars, Niger Tornadoes, Shooting Stars, Heartland FC, and Plateau United.
Ilechukwu’s team will now shift attention to the President Federation Cup, where they will take on Plateau United in the quarter-final in Abuja next week.
Enugu Rangers are four points adrift of the last continental position on the log, they will slug it out with Ikorodu City, Enyimba, Bendel Insurance, and Kano Pillars.
