Champions open title defence against Changi Boys

Rangers begin the defence of their Nigeria Premier Football League crown on Sunday (today) when they welcome Katsina United, in a fixture that is already tipped as one of the standout clashes of the 2026/27 opening weekend.

The champions go into the new campaign on the back of a title race that went right down to the wire last term, with the Flying Antelopes clinging to top spot with 59 points and only a slender advantage to show for it heading into the final rounds.

That narrow margin of victory means Rangers arrive at this curtain-raiser fully aware that a second successive crown will be no formality, starting with a Changi Boys side eager to spoil the party on day one.

The Enugu outfit’s assignment forms part of a bumper opening round featuring ten fixtures across the country.

Against that backdrop, Rangers will be keen to ensure their own effort at retaining the title gets off to a statement start rather than being overshadowed by the weekend’s other big draws.

Beyond the bragging rights of a first-day win, a strong showing would set the tone for a title defence that many expect to be closely contested from the outset, given how tight the race proved months ago.

Katsina United, for their part, will see the visit of the champions as an opportunity to lay down an early marker of their own, aware that a positive result on the road could shape perceptions of their season long before the title picture takes proper shape.

Katsina United will be aiming to make an early statement of their own against opponents fresh off a title triumph, and a positive result away from home would go a long way towards shaping how their season is judged in the weeks that follow.