Enugu Rangers will honor their President Federation Cup clash against Rivers United despite mounting speculation over a possible boycott, AthleticNG can exclusively report.
Fresh reports had emerged suggesting the Flying Antelopes were considering pulling out of the highly anticipated fixture following dissatisfaction with the decision to move the match venue to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
However, in an exclusive confirmation to TheAthleticNG, Rangers General Manager, Barr. Amobi Ezeaku, dismissed uncertainty surrounding the club’s participation, making it clear that the NPFL champions will fulfil the fixture.
“We will play,” Ezeaku told TheAthleticNG.
The brief but definitive response appears to calm growing concerns over reports that Rangers could boycott the competition if organizers failed to review the venue arrangement.
The blockbuster encounter was initially scheduled to be played in Owerri before organizers opted for a relocation amid concerns over the close proximity between Enugu and the Imo State capital.
The fixture was subsequently moved to Uyo, but the new venue has also reportedly failed to satisfy Rangers officials, who are believed to prefer a more neutral location.
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Reports had claimed the Enugu club raised concerns that Uyo’s proximity to Port Harcourt could potentially favour Rivers United in terms of fan presence, travel convenience, and familiarity.
Sources had further suggested Rangers proposed alternatives such as Abuja or Jos as neutral grounds for the crucial encounter.
While Ezeaku’s comments to TheAthleticNG effectively shut down speculation of a withdrawal from the competition, they do not entirely dismiss concerns surrounding the venue decision, with dissatisfaction over the relocation understood to remain unresolved.
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The President Federation Cup showdown between Rangers and Rivers United remains a high-profile fixture after both teams recently went toe to toe in the battle in the 2025/26 NPFL title race, Rangers eventually emerged champions after winning last game of the season in Lagos against Ikorodu City.
The president federation cup fixture offers a rare square off for two giants, it’s scheduled for June 1, 2026, with both sides expected to battle for a place in the next stage despite the growing off-field tension surrounding the tie.
