Rangers International head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu hailed his side’s resilience after their 2-2 draw with Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.
The Flying Antelopes twice came from behind thanks to a brace from striker Godwin Obaje, who returned to haunt his former club.
“We are so happy about the result, we have worked so hard for about two weeks because of the outstanding game we have,” Ilechukwu said.
“Today’s game shows that the team has worked hard. The boys fought hard to get this point.”
The draw was Rangers’ first on the road this season after defeats in their opening two away fixtures, and Ilechukwu admitted the result was a boost for a side struggling for form.
“Where we are in the table isn’t where we are supposed to be because Rangers is a big team and we have top players,” he explained. “We have to take our games one after the other because they’re important to us.”
Fidelis Ilechukwu. Photo Credit: Justina Aniefiok
Obaje’s performance drew praise from his coach, who believes the forward remains among the best in the country.
“Obaje is a top player, he knows what to do at any given time. I’m not surprised at what he has done today,” Ilechukwu said. “We are looking forward to seeing a better Obaje in future games.”
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Obaje, top scorer in the 2016 NPFL season with 18 goals while at Wikki, has now taken his NPFL career tally to 87 league goals.
The eight-time champions had a rescheduled game last week due to Abia Warriors’ CAF Confederation Cup involvement, giving them a rest before this encounter. They now sit in the relegation zone with five points from five games.
Looking ahead, Ilechukwu urged patience from supporters as the club prepares for back-to-back home matches against Katsina United and Abia Warriors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
“I want to thank the supporters of the team for their patience and understanding, for not turning their back on us when we were not doing well,” he said.
“The league has only just started, and I want them to believe in the team. With Rangers, we will go where we belong.”
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Ilechukwu is in his third season with Rangers, having led them to the NPFL title in 2023/24, though the team slipped to 10th place last term.
