Emmanuel Essien

Defensive Midfielder - Rangers International
30 Sep 2027
Thursday
Process

Marked for Emmanuel Essien

39 Edition

The Rangers International Courier

26 Apr 2027
From our football correspondent Triumph

Match

Kelechi Ogbodo sends Rangers International through

Cup ties wait for somebody to seize them, and Kelechi Ogbodo obliged against Warri Wolves. 3‑2 on the night, and the name in the next round’s hat is Rangers International.

Player ratings

Kelechi Ogbodo scores twice — 8.30

Two goals and a mark of 8.30 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.

Player ratings

Ganiyu Gberefu beats them one at a time

Successful dribbles: 29. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.

Player ratings

Olisa Moffi, 17, plays like he has been here for years — 8.30

A mark of 8.30 means one thing beside a twenty-nine-year-old's name and something else entirely beside a 17-year-old's. Nobody at the ground needed telling which this was.

Squad

A one-man rearguard from Lucky Jimoh

There were 6 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.

Match

Rangers International make it 4 in a row

Momentum is a hard thing to buy and an easy thing to lose, and right now Rangers International have 4 straight wins of it.

The dugout

Emmanuel Essien: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Rangers International have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Squad

A falling-out at Rangers International

James Emo and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

Match

Olisa Moffi the difference as Rangers International beat Barau

Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Olisa Moffi. 2‑1 against Barau, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.

In brief

Back issues
20 Edition

The Rangers International Courier

14 Dec 2026
From our football correspondent Crisis

Match

The small margins put Rangers International out

Out, 0‑2 to Enyimba, and the long argument about which of the small moments decided it. The league is all there is now, and everybody knows it.

Squad

Tempers go at Rangers International

James Emo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

Ifeanyi Assurance beats them one at a time

Successful dribbles: 20. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.

The dugout

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The dugout

Alex Adeleye faces the questions

“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Alex Adeleye after 0‑2, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.

The dugout

No hiding place for Lucky Jimoh

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Lucky Jimoh, and the manager let it.

In brief