It was an atmosphere of optimism in and around Rangers FC camp as a strong delegation of the team touched down in Uyo for their opening fixture in 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The players and coaches of the club are hoping for a positive outcome in first leg, first preliminary round fixture against Comoros Islands side, U.S Zilimadjou, who are playing their home fixture in Nigeria.
The team has been in an intense training regime for the past three weeks in Enugu under coach Ilechukwu and his able lieutenants, and they are rearing to go against the Comoros league champions who landed in the country on Wednesday.
Captain of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Ugwueze Chinemerem, is optimistic about getting a good result ahead of the return leg that has been fixed for Friday, August 23, 2024, at the same facility, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, as he said, in a chat, “We respect our opponent but we shall do the needful, by God’s special grace, on the field of play”.
” We have intensified our training since the preparation for the new season started and with the level of motivation in our team, we shall come out with a good result.”
In his reaction ahead of the fixture, assistant captain and short-stopper, Opubo Japhet said, “I believe we have all it takes to get a good result on Sunday in Uyo. Though not much is known about our opponent, we give them their respect as the champions of Comoros but we have our game plans.”
The encounter is slated for 3 pm on Sunday (18 August 2024) at the ‘Nest of Champions’, Godswill Akpabio Int’L Stadium Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
No Nigeria club has been able to qualify for the group stage of the competition in the last three seasons but lots of the supporters of the Flying Antelopes believe Rangers will help Nigeria break the jinx but the operation starts this weekend