Fidelis Ilechukwu optimistic about Rangers’ progress in CAF Champions League
Rangers International coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, is confident that his team will advance to the next round of the CAF Champions League.
In the first leg of the preliminary round of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League, Nigeria league champions Rangers International secured a 1-0 victory over U.S Zilimadjou, champions of Comoros Island.
The decisive moment came in the 22nd minute when Uwumiro Frank scored with a header from a well-delivered corner kick by Agu Kenechukwu. The match took place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, which served as a home ground for the Comoros side due to the non-approval of their stadium.
Coach Ilechukwu expressed his satisfaction with the performance and the result. “It was a game we had control over in the first stanza and could have scored more goals that would have killed any fight back from our opponent,” he said. “We lowered our guard in the second stanza and they came out to attack, but we stood out to see off the encounter. We will go back to the drawing board to prepare very well for the return leg and we are positive going forward.”
Rangers’ captain, Ugwueze Chinemerem, acknowledged that the match did not go exactly as planned, but emphasized the importance of the win. “The game did not go the way we planned it but the win is very important for us,” he noted. “I think with this result, we are in good stead to pick a ticket into the next round but we have some work to do before the return leg. This is gone and to the glory of God, it turned in our favor. It was a vital win.”
The return leg of the fixture is scheduled to take place at the same venue, with Rangers International playing as the host on Friday, August 23, 2024. The winner of this match will secure a place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Champions will prepare for the second with a friendly match against Blessed Stars Academy on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
