Rangers Target Winning Start in CAFCL Opener

Enugu Rangers are targeting a winning start in the CAF Champions League as they host AS Sobemap of Porto-Novo in the first leg of their preliminary round clash on Sunday.

The Flying Antelopes will welcome the Beninese champions to the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, with the nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions hoping to build an advantage before the return leg in Porto-Novo.

Rangers chairman, Amobi Ezeaku, said the club would approach the encounter with the right mentality, noting that the team was ready to fight until the final whistle.

“We will come out and push till the end in our clash against AS Sobemap of Porto-Novo on Sunday,” Ezeaku said.

He pointed to Rangers’ dramatic NPFL opening-day draw against Katsina United, in which the Enugu side snatched a late equaliser, as proof of the team’s fighting spirit.

“The evidence of our strong mentality was in our league opener against Katsina United, where we got the goal in the last minutes,” he added.

Super Eagles assistant coach and Rangers head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, said his side had put the disappointment of the draw behind them and were fully focused on the continental assignment.

“I will not blame my players (for the draw) because they are the best and we will give them the confidence to go again.”

Ilechukwu added that Rangers would use the Champions League tie to atone for missed chances in the league opener, describing the Katsina United result as a mistake his side was determined to correct.

Ezeaku also called on Rangers supporters to turn out in large numbers in Abeokuta to cheer the team on, insisting the club would not lose sight of its domestic ambitions despite the continental focus.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel for us. We hope more fans will come out. This is Rangers representing the country,” he said.

The winner of the tie will progress to the second preliminary round to face the winner of the ASN Nigelec versus MC Alger fixture.