Rangers General Manager Amobi Ezeaku has finally addressed growing speculation surrounding his future at the club, insisting that a definitive decision on whether he will remain at the Coal City Flying Antelopes will be made within the next three weeks.
Speaking during the club’s end-of-season briefing, Ezeaku admitted he is facing one of the most difficult decisions of his professional career, with family considerations, personal wellbeing, and several high-profile opportunities all weighing heavily on his mind.
The Rangers chief stressed that his current uncertainty should not be viewed as a crisis for the seven-time Nigerian champions.
“Give me three weeks,” Ezeaku said.
“I can only answer this question in the next three weeks. Right now, I am here. But in the next three weeks, I will give a definitive answer as to my stay in Rangers.”
“Whether I am in Rangers or not, Rangers will continue to thrive. Rangers will continue to survive. Rangers will continue to go from leap to leap beyond bounds. It is not about me. It is about this institution, a great institution.”
The General Manager’s remarks come amid increasing speculation that he could leave the club after nearly three years in charge.
Rangers GM Barr. Amobi Ezeaku. – Family sacrifice at the centre of decision. Photocredit: TheAthleticNG –
For the first time, Ezeaku revealed that one of the biggest factors influencing his thinking is the toll his job has taken on his young family.
The football administrator disclosed that his two sons, aged two and three, currently live outside Nigeria and have spent much of their formative years away from him.
“I have two boys, two years and three years, and they are not with me here in the country,” he said.
“After two years and ten months, two trophies in three years, and then a family that is suffering my absence, young boys who are growing without their father, I need to have a clear head to decide.”
Ezeaku added that the final decision will not be his alone.
“I am not making this decision alone. My wife has to be involved. Those whom I respect also have to be involved.”
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The Rangers chief also disclosed that he has multiple opportunities available both within and outside football administration, many of which offer significantly better financial rewards.
According to him, before accepting the Rangers role, he was on the verge of joining FIFA’s legal department and had advanced to the final stages of interviews for other international positions.
“All of the roles open to me pay better than here,” Ezeaku admitted.
“Before I came to Rangers, I was supposed to join the FIFA legal department. The last mail I was supposed to send, I didn’t send it because I wanted to come to Rangers.”
He revealed that FIFA is currently waiting for his response regarding a Senior Legal Counsel Litigation position based in Miami, United States.
“As I speak to you, FIFA is waiting for me to send a reply to the Senior Legal Counsel position. The office is in Miami. The mail is here. I had to archive it.”
“It is enticing.”
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Beyond FIFA, Ezeaku disclosed that he remains involved with global football governance structures, including FIFA’s Integrity Expert panel and the FIFA Pro Bono Council, while other opportunities remain available through CAF and international sports institutions.
“I can’t work for another Nigerian club”
Despite interest from other football clubs, Ezeaku insisted he has no intention of working for another Nigerian side.
He revealed that senior political figures linked to football clubs have approached him, but his loyalty to Rangers remains unquestionable.
“I have spoken to two deputy governors in this country who want me to come and work for their clubs.”
“One is a prominent club very close to us here.”
“But even if you offer me billions, I can’t work for any other club in Nigeria.”
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Perhaps the most revealing part of Ezeaku’s address was his candid admission of the emotional burden associated with leading one of Nigeria’s biggest football institutions.
He described football administration as a role that extends far beyond contracts, transfers and matchday operations, often forcing him to shoulder the personal struggles of supporters and club stakeholders.
“Every day in this office, I see people who look at me as their last hope.”
“When a man comes to you crying that his family has not eaten for two days, even if you don’t have money, you have to find a way.”
“These things torture me mentally.”
Enugu Rangers General manager Barr Amobi Ezeaku during an NPFL matchday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium.
Ezeaku further disclosed that the pressure became so severe at one point that he suffered a serious health scare last August.
“August 12 last year, people were deciding whether to take me to the mortuary. Many of you never knew.”
“I didn’t know when I was carried away from my house.”
The Rangers boss admitted that the possibility of relocating abroad to take up a FIFA or CAF role carries obvious appeal.
“If I go to Zurich, Miami or Cairo, nobody will know me. I will enjoy my life with my family and stop the mental torture.”
Love for Rangers remains unchanged
Despite the uncertainty, Ezeaku repeatedly emphasized his affection for Rangers and his commitment to ensuring the club continues to grow.
He reflected on helping the Flying Antelopes win two trophies during his tenure and praised the support he has received from the current Enugu State administration.
Amobi Ezeaku and Coach Ilechukwu
The administrator also acknowledged that while some of his efforts had gone unrecognized in the past, he harbors no resentment.
“I love Rangers with my life.”
“I will do anything humanly possible to make sure that the light of Rangers is never extinguished.”
“If everything goes well in three weeks, I will announce that I am staying.”
For now, however, Rangers supporters must wait.
The club’s General Manager says the next 21 days will determine whether his future remains in Enugu or takes him to one of several opportunities awaiting him on the international stage.
