Fidelis Ilechukwu has downplayed expectations surrounding Rangers International FC in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League title race, insisting the team is not under pressure to clinch the championship this season.
The eight-time champions currently sit second on the table, just one point behind leaders Rivers United FC, with other contenders such as Ikorodu City FC and Nasarawa United FC also firmly in the mix.
Despite their strong position, Ilechukwu stressed that the club’s management has not placed undue pressure on the players or technical crew.
“My job won’t be under threat if we don’t win the title this season. If you look at the team and the management, we don’t put anybody under pressure to deliver,” he said.
While acknowledging that a second-place finish would still be a respectable outcome, the coach made it clear that his side remains ambitious.
“A second-place finish is a success for Rangers, but we don’t want to accept that. We have what it takes to fight until the end,” he added.
Ilechukwu also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the league, noting how tightly contested the race has become.
“At the moment, it is difficult to determine which teams will finish in the top three because the league is tight and competitive. However, we have the capacity to finish strongly.”
With only a few matches left, Rangers remain firmly in contention as the NPFL title race heads into a decisive phase.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
