Keywords
Enugu Rangers, Soccer, Igbo, Nigeria, National Integration, Nigeria-Biafra war
Abstract
Between 1970 and 1990, Rangers FC grappled with the difficult task of facilitating Igbo
reintegration into Nigeria’s social milieu. This was a postwar necessity owing to the
dislocation of the Nigeria-Biafra War, which was fought between July 6, 1967 to January 15,
1970, by the secessionist Igbo cultural group under the umbrella of the Republic of Biafra.
However, where the insincere postwar Federal reintegration efforts failed, Rangers
succeeded. This study focuses on examining the role of soccer as a reintegrating agent in a
pluralistic postwar society like Nigeria. It argues that Rangers played an essential role in
postwar Igbo psychological victories and healing experience, identity formation and dignified
existence in Nigeria. Challenging existing scholarly arguments, it insists that Rangers being,
at a time, an Igbo-dominated club does not make it an Igbo club. It highlights the changes in
the club and it also attests to the migratory inclinations of the Igbo. It concludes that later,
Rangers became less about celebrating a specific Igbo identity, but over time, they reflected a
growing integration of Igbo people into the broader Nigerian society.
Primary Advisor
Dr M. Wright
Program Reader
Dr G. Teasdale
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
History
Document Type
Major Research Paper
Convocation Year
2022