Enugu Rangers’ hopes of beginning their 2026/27 CAF Champions League campaign at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium have received a boost, with contractors handling the renovation assuring that the venue’s roofing works will be completed before the 2026 National Sports Festival.
The development comes less than three weeks after Rangers confirmed to TheAthleticNG that they had made contingency arrangements to use the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne if the Cathedral was not ready in time for their continental campaign.
The Flying Antelopes have consistently maintained that the move to Ikenne would only be temporary, with the historic Enugu venue remaining their preferred home for CAF competition.
The latest progress at the stadium, therefore, could become significant as Rangers prepare for the first preliminary round of the Champions League, scheduled for September.
Yasser Alshamah, site manager of SANA Group Limited, the firm responsible for the roofing component of the rehabilitation, said the company was working according to an agreed programme and remained confident of meeting its deadline.
READMORE: PREVIEW: Nigeria and South Africa meet again with World Cup dreams on the line
Speaking during an inspection of the project, Alshamah said the company had about three months to complete its assigned roofing works.
“We have three months to complete the roofing of the stadium. We have no choice.”
He added that the work was being executed according to a defined schedule and expressed confidence that the aluminium sheet roofing would be completed on time.
“By the grace of God, and with the support of everyone, we will complete the aluminium sheet roofing on time.”
The site agent, Emezie Ikeanyionwu, also explained that construction had reached the stage of laying the foundation columns that will support the canopy for the stadium’s umbrella roofing.
He said the work was progressing in line with the agreed timeframe.
The assurance is particularly relevant to Rangers because the Cathedral has been undergoing a major redevelopment intended to transform the historic stadium into a modern venue capable of hosting major domestic and international competitions.
Rangers had already prepared for a possible move
Rangers’ position on the stadium was made clear last month when General Manager Amobi Ezeaku confirmed to TheAthleticNG that the club had identified the Remo Stars Stadium as a contingency venue.
Ezeaku explained that Rangers had to prepare for the possibility that the Cathedral would not be ready by the start of the CAF campaign.
“Yes, we have to be very proactive in case Cathedral (Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium) is not ready by 1st of September, but if it’s ready by then we will play in Enugu. If not, when it’s ready, we come back to Cathedral.”
That position remains important in interpreting the latest construction update. The roofing contractor’s assurance does not automatically mean that Rangers have been cleared to host CAF matches in Enugu.
The latest report specifically concerns the completion of the roofing works, while the club’s Champions League plans depend on the broader readiness of the stadium and its suitability for continental football.
Rangers therefore remain caught between two possibilities: starting their Champions League campaign in the Cathedral if the rehabilitation reaches the required stage in time or temporarily moving to Ikenne before returning to Enugu once the stadium is ready.
The National Sports Festival provides another deadline
The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium is among the facilities being prepared for the 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu, meaning the venue already faces a significant deadline before Rangers’ continental campaign gets underway.
The roofing contractor’s commitment to completing its work before the festival provides some encouragement that the stadium project is moving towards a major milestone.
But for Rangers, the bigger question is whether the entire facility will be ready to satisfy the requirements for CAF competition.
The Champions League preliminary round is scheduled to take place from September 4 to 13, leaving the Nigerian champions with little room for uncertainty over their home venue.
That is why the club’s contingency arrangement with the Remo Stars Stadium remains relevant even as work at the Cathedral advances.
Why the Cathedral matters to Rangers
Returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium would be about more than simply having a suitable venue.
The Cathedral has been closely connected with the club since Rangers’ formation in 1970 and remains one of the most recognisable football grounds in Nigeria.
The stadium was originally opened in 1959 as the Enugu Township Stadium and has hosted generations of Rangers supporters, as well as major domestic and international fixtures.
Its current redevelopment includes improvements to the pitch, dressing rooms, spectator stands, athletics track, floodlighting, seating, scoreboard, access control and other supporting infrastructure.
The installation of the new roofing is therefore one part of a much broader attempt to give the stadium a modern appearance and functionality.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
If the Cathedral meets the required standards in time, Rangers can begin their continental journey in front of their home supporters in Enugu. If the project runs beyond the CAF timeline, the Remo Stars Stadium will provide a temporary alternative.
