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| Godwin obaje |
Rangers International striker Godwin Obaje says becoming only the third player to score 100 goals in the Nigeria Premier Football League is an achievement he will treasure throughout his career.
Obaje reached the landmark against Warri Wolves after converting a penalty, helping Rangers secure all three points in the match and etching his name into the history of Nigerian football alongside Victor Ezeji and Rabiu Ali.
The striker revealed that he never imagined reaching the century mark when he began his professional career. His initial ambition was simply to work hard, score regularly and contribute to his team.
However, by the end of last season, Obaje discovered that he was closing in on the milestone after checking his league statistics. The figure became an additional source of motivation, although he maintained that winning the league with Rangers remained his primary objective.
He knew before the Warri Wolves fixture that he needed just one more goal to reach 100. When Rangers were awarded a penalty, Obaje understood the significance of the opportunity.
“I told myself to take my time and make sure I made history that day,” he said.
The reality of the achievement became even clearer to him during Rangers’ next game, when he received a plaque commemorating the milestone.
Obaje said reaching the mark alongside Ezeji and Ali gives him particular satisfaction, describing the two players as legends of Nigerian football.
“I am really happy to be counted among these names in Nigerian football who have reached the 100-goal mark,” he said.
The forward identified winning his first league title with Rangers as a major turning point in his career. After previously securing the league’s top scorer award, his next ambition was to help his club win the championship, a target he eventually achieved.
Maintaining consistency has been one of the biggest challenges of his career, but Obaje believes his determination and ability to motivate himself have helped him overcome difficult periods.
Rather than setting another specific scoring target after reaching 100 goals, he intends to continue finding the net and see how far he can go.
Obaje also remains open to another opportunity with Nigeria. Having represented the country at CHAN level, he said he would be ready to answer the call if selected for either the Super Eagles or the CHAN squad.
The Rangers striker attributed his longevity in the NPFL to discipline, hard work, a positive attitude and his faith.
He also credited his family for playing an important role in his development. Obaje started his football journey at Moderate Stars Academy, owned by his elder brother, and received strong support from his brothers Gabriel and Joshua.
He recalled that Joshua regularly bought him football boots during his early days, encouragement that helped him pursue his ambition of becoming a professional footballer.
Now firmly established among the few players to have scored 100 NPFL goals, Obaje says he has no fixed number in mind for what comes next. His immediate focus is to keep working hard, scoring goals and contributing to Rangers for as long as possible.