NPFL: Fidelis Ilechukwu unpressured ahead of Enyimba clash

By Saheed Afolabi

Enugu Rangers head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has dismissed any pressure ahead of his side’s Oriental Derby clash with Enyimba International in Aba.

The last encounter between the two teams ended in controversy after a late penalty awarded to Rangers led to a tense and chaotic finish.

The game was abandoned, and the NPFL board later awarded a 3-0 victory to the Flying Antelopes.

Reflecting on that charged atmosphere, Ilechukwu emphasized that his team is fully prepared for the upcoming encounter against what he considers the best team in Nigeria.

“Big game accepted, important game against Enyimba on Tuesday, the best team in Nigeria,” Ilechukwu told 54footballx.

“We are prepared for the game. It’s just football—three things will happen: win, lose, or draw.”

The former MFM FC coach acknowledged Enyimba’s continental experience but insisted that his team will remain focused on their own game.

“We don’t know what will happen because Enyimba is in top-class shape, playing on the continent. But we are not bothered about that; we will just play our game,” he added.

Currently, the Flying Antelopes sit fourth in the NPFL standings with 23 points from 14 matches and will be aiming to close the gap as they face the People’s Elephant in this highly anticipated derby.