Nigerian club’s continental participants in the ongoing CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup have been lauded by the second vice president of Nigeria Football Federation and chairman of the League Management Company Malam Shehu Dikko after both teams progressed to the first round of the competition beating their preliminary stage opponents.
Enugu Rangers tutored by Gbenga Ogunbote in the CAF Confederations Cup progressed in flying colors after thumping Ethiopian side Defence Force 5 – 1 on aggregate while champions Lobi Stars in the CAF Champions league saw off competition from Cameroonian side UMS de Loum 2 – 1 on aggregate.
Shehu who was at the inauguration of the Nigeria football reforms committee has implored Nigerians to support the teams as they progress. “I want to say I am impressed with what Lobi and Rangers are doing on the continent. It is indeed very commendable and at our own level we will do everything possible to support them and I am also imploring Nigerians to give the team all their support as they play in the first round.”
Lobi Stars will face Gor Mahia of Kenya in the first round of the championships. Lobi. Mahia narrowly escaped in the preliminary stage beating Big Bullets of Malawi 4 -3 on penalties after the score line was tied at 1 – 1 on aggregate after two legs.
Aiteo Cup winner Enugu Rangers is billed to face Algeria’s USM Bel-Abbes in the first round of the CAF Confederations Cup. Bel-Abbes beat LISCR FC of Liberia 5 – 0 on aggregate to progress to the first round.
Meanwhile Dikko has also noted that soon, the Nigeria professional football league will resume as meetings are being held to finalize the process of aligning the local league to that of Europe.
