The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) game between Enugu Rangers and Enyimba, which took place on June 9, 2024, has been abandoned after ending in chaos due to a last-minute penalty.
The match was highly anticipated as it was a title-deciding fixture in the 2023–2024 StarTimes/NPFL season. Enugu Rangers, leading the league with 61 points, hosted Enyimba, who were second with 59 points, at the newly refurbished Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
The game started well, with fans shutting down the Enugu metropolis and filling up the 22,000-capacity stadium in the hope of experiencing the best of the Nigerian league.
However, trouble started when the referee awarded a late penalty to Rangers in the 99th minute. The Enyimba players protested the decision and walked off the pitch.
This allowed the irate Enyimba fans to invade the field and disrupt the match. The game was subsequently suspended.
The incident sparked outrage on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment and frustration. The chaos at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu highlighted the need for better security and crowd control measures at football matches in Nigeria.
This incident is not the first time that a match between Enugu Rangers and Enyimba has been marred by controversy. In a previous encounter around 2008, Enyimba fans reportedly pulled down the gate to the stadium’s main bowl after a 1-1 draw, claiming they were cheated.
The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will likely face scrutiny over the incident, with calls for a thorough investigation and stricter penalties for crowd disturbances at matches.
Watch the video below:
Rangers vs Enyimba that we all celebrated for days ruined. What a nonsense way to end the biggest match this NPFL season. So sad. pic.twitter.com/wHxAbQBT5C
— @Piusayinor (@PiusAyinor) June 9, 2024
