NPFL: Fidelis Ilechukwu tags Rangers draw with El Kanemi Warriors as worst game

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Rangers International FC head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has described as not too good showing from his team following a 0-0 against El-Kanemi Warriors in Enugu on Saturday.

Both sides displayed their football strengths to the fans that thronged the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for the opening match of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season.

After the encounter, the Flying Antelopes manager insists they could have done better on their title defense start on home soil.

“I think it is one of the worst games we have played at this stadium. I am very sad about it because we had our game plan but sometimes football is funny,” Ikechukwu said after the match.

“Things will not go the way one expected. El Kanemi Warriors are a very good side because I know the team very well. I think we have to plan the way forward and forget about the game because the game has gone.

“I think it is a general thing. We have to analyze what happened today. We understand that today we do less than what is expected of us and even what we were expecting from ourselves. We are not going to kill ourselves because of that. I know it was a disappointing one for today and we must forge ahead.”

The Antelopes managed to play out a 2-1 aggregate win over US Zilimadjou in the first Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League setting a recent trend of unconvincing results.

“It is very important and concerning because a team is as good as their last game,” he continued.

“The same thing happened in our continental game. When things happen like this, we must understand that we need to analyze and start to put our heads together to find a solution now that we have some days ahead to prepare for the next game.”

The Enugu-based side will next host Sagrada Esperanca from Angola in the second Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League with the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, between September 13 to 15.