The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Rangers through to the Group Stage

    Rangers through to the Group Stage

    Nigeria’s remaining representatives in Africa, Enugu Rangers have sailed to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after the club got a battling goalless draw Sunday at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri, Sfax against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

    The Flying Antelopes qualified 1-0 on aggregate after surviving a first half penalty kick which CS Sfaxien’s player couldn’t convert from 12 yards.

    The Coal City side would fancy a chance at lifting the second tier Africa’s clubs competition this term after the club was narrowly edged out by Ghanaian side Ashanti Kotoko in the inaugural edition of the competition in 2004.

    The players and the technical crew of the Flying Antelopes gave all they had to the game having been bouyed by the promised money incentives of 5 million naira from the Enugu government ;one million naira from the state’s ALGON; USD 2000 from the club’s General Manager, Paul Chibuzor Ozor among others for a ticket to the next round.

    It would be recalled that Ugonna Uzochukwu’s late minute goal in the first leg played in Enugu made the difference over the two legs as Rangers dumped the new Tunisian champions out just by the solitary goal.

  • Rangers to players: Beat Sfaxien, swim in cash

    Rangers to players: Beat Sfaxien, swim in cash

    Enugu Rangers’ players and officials have been assured of financial windfall if they scale through the hurdle called CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the second leg, third round of the CAF Confederation Cup billed for Sfax next weekend.

    The chairman Rangers’ Board, Festus Onu, who made the pronouncement recently after redeeming the promise of N500,000 for each goal the Flying Antelopes recorded when the first leg was played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium,Enugu.

    Onu assured players and officials of the Coal City side that they would all smile to the bank if they could qualify for the group stage of the second tier club club competition despite holding a slim 1-0 advantage to the second leg cracker in Sfax this Sunday.

    To this effect, he has promised another N500,000 cash reward if Rangers are able to book a spot in the group stage.

    The astute businessman has also motivated the players with a token of N250,000 after the Enugu side surmounted the threat of Sunshine Stars 2-0 at home in a NPFL Week 15 tie.

    In a related development, the media officer of the Rangers, Foster Chime has stressed the club’s resolve to pip CS Sfaxien to the ticket to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and to ensure this is done, Chime noted that the players and officials are using their last two games before their trip to Tunisia next week as a way of preparing for the task at hand.

    Rangers played non-league side Oblic FC in the semi-finals of the Enugu State FA Cup last Friday and won 1-0 before thrashing Sunshine 2-0 in a top of the table clash last Sunday in Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes relied on an injury time goal from Ugonna Uzochukwu to down the visiting CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the first leg and are in race against time to nick a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup’s group stage as they currently walk tightrope.

    The 35-man contingent including 19 players made it through Arik Air to Lagos before leaving for Tunisia around 8:50pm Wednesday night.

  • RANGERS FIELDED AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER AGAINST SC SFAXIEN – 3SC

    RANGERS FIELDED AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER AGAINST SC SFAXIEN – 3SC

    •Sunshine Stars too

    THE MANAGEMENT of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan has accused Rangers International of Enugu of parading Emmanuel Daniel, against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Sunshine Stars in a CAF Confederation Cup and Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) matches respectively. The club administrative secretary, Demola Alabi in a text message forwarded to SportingLife yesterday alleged that Daniel, whose clearance is still with 3SC, was fielded by Rangers in their 1-0 CAF Confederation Cup first leg match in Enugu and in a week 15 NPFL match against Sunshine on Sunday in Akure.

    Alabi claimed that Daniel is still a 3SC player, alleging that LMC issued license to the player without their permission. He vowed that the club will go to any length to get justice in the case. “Enugu Rangers fielded an ineligible player against CS Sfaxine of Tunisia and Sunshine Stars in CAF Confederation Cup and Nigeria Professional Football League respectively. “The name of the player is Emmanuel Daniel, whose clearance is still with Shooting Stars Sports Club.

    Only the NPL official in charge of players’ registration can tell the whole world how Rangers got Daniel’s license without clearance from his last club (3SC). “Consequently upon our investigation from NPFL, it was revealed that LMC chairman, Nduka Irabor unilaterally ordered the issuance of the license to Rangers without following due process. We won’t take this lightly,” Alabi text messages reads in part.

    “We wrote a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before now notifying them of what is happening and we also informed NPFL verbally on the issue. We don’t want to embarrass Nigeria that is why kept quiet since and now that we have realised that they are trying to play smart that is why we are crying out. This is a fraud because without us clearing him, Daniel is not eligible to play for any team. Only for us to know that the guy played against Sunshine on Sunday and against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.”

  • Rangers, Ismaili listed for Ghana President’s Cup

    Rangers, Ismaili listed for Ghana President’s Cup

    Enugu Rangers and Ismaili will play in the 2013 President’s Cup, the Ghana League Clubs Association has confirmed.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Rangers is currently placed 13th in the Nigerian Premier League table after 14 rounds of matches while Ismaili has Ghanaian striker John Antwi in its set up.

    The foreign clubs will be joined by two local clubs who will be selected through a public voting system by SMS.

    Already, giants Asante Kotoko officials had ruled themselves out after accusing the organizers, GHALCA, of showing no support when the team was banned by the Ghana Football Association for crowd violence.

     

  • Confed Cup: Rangers seek Mba, Agbim’s release

    Confed Cup: Rangers seek Mba, Agbim’s release

    Nigeria’s remaining representatives on the continent, Enugu Rangers are sweating over the inclusion of their players Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim in the Super Eagles’ squad currently camping in Abuja.

    Rangers need Mba and Agbim for their CAF Confederation Cup first leg 3rd Round tie against Tunisian CS Sfaxien on Sunday in Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes’ General Manager, Paul Chibuzor Ozor told SportingLife that the Enugu based club have made a passionate appeal to Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi to allow the players join the Rangers squad this weekend and then return to the senior national team in Germany on Monday.

    “This is also a national assignment like the Super Eagles’ game. We would like to have Agbim and Mba in the game against CS Sfaxien. We have appealed to coach Stephen Keshi but he is yet to answer us,” Ozor said.

    Meanwhile, Rangers have sent a letter to the handlers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to look into the match schedule of teams representing the country in continental competitions next season based on some lapses noticed this season.

    The Flying Antelopes opined that crowded league fixtures have not in any way helped their cause and that of others that were in Africa before they were eliminated.

    In a press statement by the club’s Media Officer, Foster Chime, the Rangers management also debunked the assertion that they requested for the rescheduling of their week 11 game against Bayelsa United to Monday 13 May 2013.

    The statement insisted that Rangers officially asked the NPFL to allow them play the Week 11 match against Bayelsa United on Sunday, 12 May 2013, while rescheduling their week 10 match against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi to another date due to their late arrival to Enugu, from their CAF champions League campaign.

    The request was not granted.

  • Rangers duo out of Bayelsa Utd clash

    Nigeria Professional League side Enugu Rangers have confirmed that two of their key players will be missing today’s (Monday) league fixture against Bayelsa United at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu.

    The duo confirmed to miss the visit of NPFL new boys Bayelsa United are Alhaji Gero and Emmanuel Daniel who are both with the country’s national u-20 team the Flying Eagles.

    Others available

    Apart from Alhaji Gero and Emmanuel Daniel, other players are available for selection for the game against Bayelsa United on Monday. Rangers posted on their official twitter handle on Sunday morning.

    Gero and Daniel have joined the Flying Eagles who have since stepped up preparations for the Turkey 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.

    The Coach John Obuh tutored U20 side left for a training camp in Germany on Saturday, May 11. The team will be there until May 27 when it flies out to France for the Toulon Invitational Youth Tournament.

    After the tournament on June 8, the Flying Eagles will return to the camp in Germany, and be there until 17th June, when they are due t fly to Turkey for the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals.

  • ‘Rangers determined to overcome C.S. Sfaxien’

    Foster Chime, the Media Officer of Rangers International FC of Enugu, said on Thursday that the club was determined to overcome CS Sfaxien FC of Tunisia in their upcoming encounter in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Chime told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the team would make good their promise to win a continental trophy for the country.

    It would be recalled that Rangers got demoted to the lower tier of CAF’s clubs’ competition, after it suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Recreativo Libolo FC of Angola.

    The defeat suffered by Rangers in the CAF Champions League Competition, the continents’ flagship club competition, meant that Rangers would have to strive for honours in a different competition.

    “Most teams in the competition are strong but we are prepared for the encounter against Sfaxien and we have what it takes to prevail.

    “The boys are in camp preparing, we’ve built a team that is strong and ready to play them. In spite of the demotion. We are in high spirits,” he said.

    The spokesman added that coming from a more competitive competition like the Champions League would be an advantage to the team in the Confederation Cup.

    He told NAN that the approval given to Sunday Mba to play for the club, had boosted the team’s morale, adding that he was committed towards ensuring that the club achieved its objectives.

    “We are at a beneficial point and have a bit of the upper hand in the forthcoming match because of the tougher opponents we had confronted in the Champions League.

    “With Sunday Mba cleared to play, the confidence level is higher; he is a committed player who wants the club to excel, and he scored our only goal against Libolo.

    “Now that we can boast of a complete team, we plan to take every game as it comes,” Chime said.

    NAN reports that the first leg of the encounter against the Tunisian side will hold on the weekend of May 17, 18 and 19; while the reverse fixtures are billed for the weekend of May 31, June 1 and June 2.

  • CAF CONFEDERATION CUP TIE Rangers draw CS Sfaxien in 3rd Round

    CAF CONFEDERATION CUP TIE Rangers draw CS Sfaxien in 3rd Round

    Flying Antelopes say no cause for alarm
    Return from Angola Tuesday

     

    Enugu Rangers will entertain Tunisian club, CS Sfaxien in the 3rd Round of CAF Confederation Cup after the Confederation of African Football(CAF) pitted the Nigeria’s representatives in a short draw held in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday.

    Rangers stepped down to the second tier Africa’s club competition after they were eliminated by Recreativo Despotivo do Libolo of Angola 3-1 on aggregate in the second round.

    The Flying Antelopes will host the first leg on Sunday May 19 2013 while the second leg holds in Sfax in the weekend of May 31 to June 2.

    The Enugu based team represented Nigeria at the inaugural edition of the Confederation Cup in 2004 and they narrowly missed out on the final on the head to head rule after they ended on same number of points with Ashanti Kotoko. Kotoko had better head to head than the Nigerian having defeated Rangers 3-1 in Kotoko but the Flying Antelopes only beat the Ghanaian side 1-0 in the return leg in Enugu.

    Rangers’ media officer, Foster Chime assures that the club would scale through the hurdle called CS Sfaxien in the 3rd Round.

    He expressed that the Flying Antelopes would ensure they win well during the first leg in a fortnight in Enugu to deter the episode that transpired against Libolo based Recreativo.

    “We are aware of our opponents and we are going to devise means to beat them well during the first leg.

    “CS Sfaxien are a good side and we are not going to underrate them at all. We will not allow what happened against Recreativo to repeat itself again,” a confident Chime stressed.

  • Rangers know Confederation Cup foes May 7

    Rangers know Confederation Cup foes May 7

    Nigeria’s remaining club on the continent Enugu Rangers will know their opponents in the 3rd Round of the CAF Confederation Cup on Tuesday, when the draw for the play-off round is held in Cairo, Egypt the headquarters of the African football ruling body.

    The Flying Antelopes dropped to the second tier of Africa’s club competitions after they were eliminated by Angolan side Recreativo Despotivo do Libolo in the second round of the CAF Champions League 3-1 on aggregate on Saturday.

    At this stage of the competition, a winner from the Confederation Cup second round plays the loser from the Champions League second round, with the team advancing from the Confederation Cup hosting the second leg.

    With this development, Rangers will host their would-be opponents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu before playing away from home in the deciding leg at a date to be announced on Tuesday also in Cairo.

    LLB Académic (Burundi), ENPPI (Egypt), Ismaily (Egypt), US Bitam (Gabon) FAR Rabat (Morocco) and Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia) are some of the clubs that sealed their places in the third round after beating their foes in the last round of the Confederation Cup ties while Entente Sétif (Algeria) that narrowly lost on penalties to AC Leopards of Congo, JSM Béjaïa (Algeria), Stade Malien (Mali), FUS Rabat (Morocco) and Enugu Rangers (Nigeria) are some of the clubs that dropped down to the Confederation Cup after they lost in their respective second round contests in the Champions League.

    Interestingly, the draw for the group stage will be held on 14 May 2013. The eight teams will be drawn into two groups of four, which are played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advance to the semi-finals.

    Lobi Stars, Heartland and Kano Pillars all lost out before now leaving only Rangers with the country’s last hope for silverware on the continent this year.

  • Rangers’ coach blames officiating

    Rangers coach, Okey Emordi, said: “We lost this game to some questionable calls from the referee. Yes, we did not start the game well but when we were on the ascendancy he tactfully cut all our moves and gave that very dubious penalty that killed off the fighting spirit in my players. All the same, I am happy with the performance of my team as we now go back to prepare well for the Confederation Cup group stage qualifying match.”

    Rangers’ goal scorer and AFCON hero, Sunday Mba said: “I am very happy with my performance against CRD Libolo and God crowned my effort with a great goal. But, what is the value of the goal since it could not help my team pick the group stage ticket? I thank God for helping me with a great performance today after a long time out of action.”