Enugu Rangers will begin their CAF Champions League campaign on Sunday when they host Beninese champions AS Sobemap in the first leg of their preliminary-round tie at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta.
The nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions will be looking to make home advantage count before travelling to Porto-Novo for the return fixture, with progression to the second preliminary round the immediate objective.
Rangers chairman Amobi Ezeaku has urged the team to maintain the right mentality and 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.
NPFL reigning champions Enugu Rangers during a training session as the Flying Antelops begin their CAF Champions League campaign against AS SOBEMAP on Sunday in Abeokuta. Photocredit: Rangers Media
The Flying Antelopes head into the tie after being held to a 1-1 draw by Katsina United in their opening NPFL fixture, although they showed character by scoring a late equalizer.
Ezeaku pointed to that response as evidence of the mentality he expects to see against the Beninese champions.
“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.
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Rangers head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, who is also a Super Eagles assistant coach, has urged his players to put the league disappointment behind them and concentrate fully on the 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 believes the Champions League provides an opportunity for Rangers to make amends for the chances they failed to convert against Katsina United, with the Enugu side determined to correct those mistakes.
Enugu Rangers. Photocredit: Rangers Media
The club will also be hoping for strong support in Abeokuta, with Ezeaku calling on Rangers supporters to turn out in numbers despite the team playing away from Enugu.
“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.
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The stakes are high for the Flying Antelopes, who know that a strong first leg result would put them in a favourable position heading into the return fixture in Porto-Novo.
The winner of the tie will advance to the second preliminary round, where they will face the winner of ASN Nigelec and MC Alger.
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