Rangers Aim for Strong Start in CAF Champions League

Enugu Rangers want to kick off the CAF Champions League with a win as they play against AS Sobemap from Porto-Novo in the first leg of their preliminary round match on Sunday.

The Flying Antelopes will host the Beninese champions at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. The nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions hope to gain an advantage before the second leg in Porto-Novo.

Rangers chairman, Amobi Ezeaku, said the club would come into the match with the right mindset. He emphasized that the team is 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’ thrilling NPFL opening-day draw against Katsina United, where the Enugu side scored a late equalizer, as a sign of the team’s determination.

"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.

Fidelis Ilechukwu, the Super Eagles assistant coach and Rangers head coach, said his team has moved on from the disappointment of the draw. They are now fully focused on their continental challenge.

"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 said.

Ilechukwu noted that Rangers would use this Champions League match to make up for the missed chances in the league opener. He described the draw against Katsina United as a mistake they are eager to fix.

Ezeaku also urged Rangers supporters to come out in large numbers in Abeokuta to support the team. He assured fans that the club will not forget its local goals even while focusing on the continental stage.

"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 this match will move on to the second preliminary round, where they will face the winner of the ASN Nigelec versus MC Alger game.