•••As Enugu Hosts Trophy Parade, Pledges Stadium Upgrade for CAF Matches & 2026 Sports Festival
Enugu State Governor, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has honoured players and management of Rangers International Football Club following their victory in the 2025/26 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, as the club staged a colourful trophy parade through major streets of Enugu on Tuesday.
The celebrations saw thousands of fans line up along designated routes as the NPFL champions displayed their trophy in an open top procession that moved through parts of the Coal City before culminating at the Government House, Enugu.
Governor Mbah, while receiving the team, announced a cash reward of ₦100 million for the players and ₦50 million for the management in recognition of their outstanding achievement in securing the league title.
He also presented Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) of a plot of land in Enugu to each player and member of the technical crew, describing the gesture as part of his administration’s commitment to rewarding excellence and promoting sports development.
The governor further assured that the iconic Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium would undergo significant upgrades to meet international standards, adding that the facility would be prepared to host CAF Champions League matches as well as major national sporting events.
He also confirmed that Enugu would host the 2026 National Sports Festival, tagged the “Coal City Games 2026,” with improved sporting infrastructure across the state.
The trophy parade, which preceded the Government House reception, turned parts of Enugu into a carnival-like atmosphere as fans, supporters’ clubs and residents celebrated Rangers’ return to the summit of Nigerian football.
Club officials expressed gratitude to the state government for its unprecedented support, noting that the reward package and public celebration would further motivate the team ahead of continental competitions.
Rangers International, one of Nigeria’s most decorated clubs, secured their latest NPFL title after a strong campaign that reaffirmed their dominance in domestic football.
