The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Rangers risk disqualification over Mba

    Rangers risk disqualification over Mba

    Enugu Rangers stand a risk of being disqualified from the CAF Champions League if they field Super Eagles forward Sunday Mba.

    There has been a lingering problem between Warri Wolves and Rangers over the rightful owner of the player who scored the winning goal against Burkina Faso in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in February.

    Mba is considered as ineligible to represent Rangers at any competition since he has not finalised his transfer from Warri Wolves to the Flying Antelopes.

    “We are travelling to Angola with our full squad as the injured players who missed the first leg game against Libolo have started training, Rangers wrote on its official twitter account on Tuesday.

    “This must have fueled the controversy between both clubs as Warri Wolves, who claim to still be the rightful owner of the player insisted they have not cleared him, and the transfer has not been finalised.”

    Rangers will stand the risk of disqualification if they field Mba, who is still considered ineligible to play for Rangers in any competition.

    Rangers were held to a barren draw by Libolo in the first leg played in Enugu. A score draw will see the Nigerian side progress to the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

  • Rangers get deadline to pay for Agbim

    Rangers get deadline to pay for Agbim

    WARRI WOLVES have disclosed Enugu Rangers have two weeks to pay up an agreed of N8m transfer fee for Chigozie Agbim.

    Last week, Rangers confirmed they have cleared Nigeria international goalkeeper Agbim from Wolves and so the player manned the goal for them in Sunday’s CAF Champions League third round clash at home.

    Vice chairman of Warri Wolves, Alex Amudo, informed MTNFootball.com: “We agreed that Rangers should pay N8m for Chigozie Agbim after our initial demand of fifteen million naira. We also have it documented that Rangers would pay the said amount within two weeks.”

    Rangers officials are also bullish they will soon resolve the transfer logjam involving AFCON hero Sunday Mba, who is also expected to shift base from Warri Wolves. However, they will be expected to break the bank for 24-year-old Mba as Wolves are now demanding a staggering N100m for the forward.

    “Before the Nations Cup we had told Rangers to bring about N15m for his services, but right now I am not sure Mba would go for anything less than N100m,” stated a top official of the club.

    Overseas-bound Sunday Mba has not featured in the league since winning the Nations Cup with the Super Eagles in February.

  • Rangers to pay for Mba, Agbim

    Rangers to pay for Mba, Agbim

    Enugu Rangers chairman Festus Onuh has told MTNFootball.com they will pay the transfer fees for AFCON stars Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim.

    Warri Wolves are demanding a record-shattering 12 million Naira (about $75,000) for Mba after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ruled that the AFCON hero belongs to them.

    “We have secured the clearance of three more players to feature in this Sunday’s game and we are ready to pay Warri Wolves their asking price for the services of Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim to enhance our chances over the two legs (in the CAF Champions League),” Onuh informed MTNFootball.com.

    Both players have been training with ‘The Flying Antelopes’ in Enugu. Rangers host Angola’s Recreativo de Libolo this weekend in the CAF Champions League second round and Onuh said his team will go past this hurdle.

    “The Angolans won’t stand in our way towards qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League,” he said.

    “We are properly positioned to rub shoulders with the top sides in the continent and our target remains getting to the final of the competition. It is a pity that our brothers Kano Pillars are out and that will motivate us the more to do a good representation for the country.”

    Onuh also promised that the club will be crowned Nigeria champions this season after they missed the title narrowly last term.

    In an exclusive chat with MTNFootball.com after he watched Rangers bash visiting Dolphins 3-0 in a Nigeria league Week 7 fixture in Enugu, the business mogul said that despite the fact that Rangers are second behind defending champions Kano Pillars, he was hopeful of ending the season on a high.

    “Yes, we may be second now on the log, but I promise that at the end of the season, we shall be celebrating with the league shield,” Onuh said.

    “We lost it narrowly last season, but this is going to be our year. Never mind the fact that we are currently in second position. We are destined for the top this season and I am not joking about this. We have all it takes to clinch what rightly belongs to us at the end of this season by God’s special grace.”

  • Rangers kick off ‘operation crush’

    Rangers kick off ‘operation crush’

    Enugu Rangers’ midfielder, Ugonna Uzochukwu has said his side are focused on grabbing a convincing win against visiting Vital’O of Burundi in the reverse leg, first round of the CAF Champions League.

    The first fixture on March 17 at the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium, Bujumbura, Burundi ended in a barren draw and the Coal City side are condemned to win to progress to the next stage of the Africa’s elite club championship. The encounter comes up on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    Uzochukwu said his side are done with celebrating their 3-1 win against Kwara United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) over the weekend and doubling their efforts to record an emphatic win against the Burundian side.

    “We’re done with celebrations over the 3-1 league win against Kwara United, the celebrations ended on Easter Monday, today (Tuesday) we’re back to intense training and preparation for the continental match against Vital’O of Burundi on Sunday.

    “Our focus is on the must-win-game. The game looks open following the first leg barren draw in Bujumbura but if you asked me it’s closed and over for Vital’O. Vital’O will fall and heavily, too. The spirit in camp and among my colleagues is very high, we’ll surely roast the visitors with goals,” said the Nigerian defensive midfielder to supersport.com.

    Supersport.com gathered that the Flying Antelopes went to a closed door camping on Wednesday for undivided concentration and preparation for the challenge of Vital’O of Burundi.

  • Rangers shift focus to CAF Champions League

    Rangers shift focus to CAF Champions League

    ENUGU RANGERS will today begin serious preparations for their second leg round of 16 CAF Champions League clash with Burundi’s Vital ‘O futaa.com has gathered.

    The second leg clash is billed for the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium on Sunday April 7th with first leg results standing at 0-0.

    Reports from Enugu indicates that Rangers took the day off after Sunday’s victory over Kwara United and will now get to serious training for Sunday’s game from Tuesday.

    “Serious training begins tomorrow morning (Tuesday) for the CAF Champions League game on Sunday April 7th at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

    “Today (Monday) is a free day and tomorrow we start preparation for the Champions League game against Vital ‘O on Sunday April 7th.”

    Already there is great optimism in the camp of Rangers with players beaming with confidence already; one of the players, Haliru Umar said the victory over Kwara United will motivate Rangers to beat Vital ‘O in the Caf Champions League.

  • We paid Rangers N3.5m for Mba — Wolves

    We paid Rangers N3.5m for Mba — Wolves

    Warri Wolves have claimed they paid 3.5 million Naira (more than $21,000) into a private account of a top Rangers official in respect of the transfer of AFCON star Sunday Mba.

    Warri Wolves’ media officer Moses Etu allegedly said on a radio programme in Enugu on Monday that his club actually paid the sum of N3.5m to Rangers when the player moved to Wolves two seasons ago.

    Etu said that the payment was made to the private account of the general manager of Rangers, Paul Chibuzor, who instructed them to make such payment.

    “We have all the documents regarding all our dealings with Rangers with regards to Sunday Mba. We got a provisional clearance from Rangers on Sunday Mba when he joined us and we paid the sum of N3.5m to Rangers through the private account of the GM of the club, Paul Chibuzor who instructed us to make such payment,” the club official said.

    “It is laughable that after selling a player to us they still come to lay claim to him just because he performed well at the Nations Cup and clubs are after him with mouth-watering offers. We are resolute in our claim that Mba is our player and we are ready to give Rangers the 30% sell-on clause attached to his release whenever we sell him to a foreign club.”

    However, Rangers’ media officer Foster Chime has shot down the Wolves claim.

    “It is stale news. In Abuja, the GM tendered documents and bank tellers with regard to payments made by Wolves. At no time was any money paid in respect of Sunday Mba, but for Togolese defender Busari Akinsola and it was never paid to the GM’s personal account. The G.M has even started legal proceedings against Moses Etu for defamation,” said Chime.

  • Rangers stuck as Sunshine top

    Rangers stuck as Sunshine top

    Sunshine Stars will keep top spot in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) till the next matchday after Enugu Rangers failed to win their home game on Monday that would have seen them go top by two points.

    Instead the Flying Antelopes are second on seven points with leaders, Sunshine Stars, who edge them on superior goals scored.

    Enugu Rangers 0-0 Warri Wolves

    In spite of buzzing around Warri Wolves’ goal area, Enugu Rangers for the fourth season at home could not defeat their rivals. Fans of the hosts were alleged to have attempted to attack the match officials but the security personnel intervened just in time to nip their act in the bud.

    Nasarawa United 2-1 Nembe City

    The Solid Miners took the lead in the first half through Victor Namo and the former Kano Pillars got his second and that of his team in the restart before centre-back Baker Ebiabowei scored for Nembe City via a set-piece as they suffered their second loss on the spin.

    Bayelsa United 2-0 Wikki Tourists

    A goal in each half from Uche Ihuarulan and Tarilaye Nwankwe made sure the hosts ran out two-nil victors to ensure they stay in the top four after Matchday 3.

    Akwa United 1-0 Kano Pillars

    Ubong Ekpai’s goal just past the hour mark put an end to Kano Pillars’ six-year dominance over Akwa United in the top flight.

    3SC 3-1 Lobi Stars

    Two goals before the break had this game level. Gbolahan Salami scored for 3SC first before Chimaobi Nwaogu pulled Lobi level. In the last 20 minutes of this game, Tony Edjomariegwe and Moses Ogaga got the goals that put this tie beyond Lobi’s reach.

    ABS 1-0 Dolphins

    Ichull Lordson’s goal from the spot was just all ABS needed to edge Dolphins in this tie. ABS also had Abdulrahman Bashir’s goal, which could have made it two, chalked off by the match officials.

    Sunshine Stars 3-2 Gombe United

    Dele Olorundare’s double as well as Jacob Oluyemi’s strike made sure that the two goals from Bishop Onyeudo for Gombe United counted for nothing. Sunshine Stars are now leaders of the NPFL.

    Sharks 0-1 Kwara United

    Kwara United secured the only win on the road at Sharks. Najeem Olukokun scored in the second half to put the Blue Angels to the swords as the Kwara United got their first win of the campaign.

    Heartland 4-1 Kaduna United

    The Naze Millionaires went rampant against Kaduna United scoring four goals to earn their first win this term. Emeka Ogbugh, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu and Isah Akor, with a brace, got on the score sheet for Heartland while Peter Onoja’s lone strike was not enough for Kaduna United.

    Enyimba 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors

    Late goals from Michael Okoyoh and Chimezie Amanfor secured the full points for Enyimba after it looked like they were heading for a home draw.

  • Transfer imbroglio: Mba appeals to Rangers, Wolves

    Transfer imbroglio: Mba appeals to Rangers, Wolves

    Nigerian international, Sunday Mba has made a passionate appeal to Nigeria Professional Football (NPFL) clubs, Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves to “amicably settle” their long-running dispute over his ownership.

    The two clubs have been enmeshed in a bitter dispute over the ownership of the player which prompted Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi to declare that he may consider dropping the player from the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya on March 23.

    The attacking midfielder has now voiced his sentiments about the issue.

    “The coach (Keshi) has the best interest of the country at heart and I completely respect his judgment in this matter. He wants the best for the national team and it is only logical that he builds his team around players who are playing regularly for their clubs every week,” Mba exclusively told supersport.com.

    Mba took the football world by storm with a superlative display at the 2013 African Nations Cup in South Africa where he netted the winner for Nigeria in the showpiece game against Burkina Faso.

    The 24-year-old wants to perform at the peak of his powers on a consistent basis and acknowledges that he can only do that if he plays regularly.

    “I am pleading with the clubs (Wolves and Rangers) to amicable settle this because for me, I am a professional and I just want to resume playing,” he said.

    Mba also took the time to allay fears over his physical condition ahead of the game against Kenya.

    “I am in great shape physically. As a matter of fact, I think I am in the best condition I have ever been in since I turned pro.

    “I also want the fans to recall that before the 2013 AFCON, the Nigerian league was on break but I still did well at the tournament because I never joked with my training (sessions).

    “I have intensified my regimen after the tournament because I understand that the stakes are even higher now and there are so many people who now look up to me as a role model,” the player added.

     

  • Rangers pip Enyimba 1-0

    Rangers pip Enyimba 1-0

    Enugu Rangers have opened the league season with a valuable win over rivals, Enyimba International FC of Aba in the Match Day One of the Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    Greenhorn Dada Bitrus benefitted from calamitous defending from the Peoples Elephant to put the Flying Antelopes ahead in the 26th minute for his team and the top flight’s first goal of the season.

    Enyimba’s effort to get the desired equaliser met a brickwall by the defence of Rangers who held on stoutly for a famous victory over their neighbours in the South East derby otherwise called Oriental Derby.

    Both sides witnessed glaring misses and couldn’t lift their game for most part of proceedings in Enugu.

    The game was watched by record crowd and the League Management board led by the Chairman, Nduka Irabor.

    It was also 1-0 when both sides met in Enugu last season before Enyimba won the reverse fixture 3-1 at Aba.

    Rangers thus occupy first spot in the NPFL with 3 points till the rest of the matches are decided today.

     

  • Rangers, Enyimba is star opener

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu will host Enyimba FC of Aba in the star match of the NPFL, while ABS FC will test their might against Kwara United FC in a local derby, NAN reports.

    In other encounters, Bayelsa United will confront Lobi Stars of Makurdi; Wikki Tourists of Bauchi will tackle Kano Pillars; 3SC are up against Gombe United; Akwa United will play Dolphins; Sunshine Stars will host Kaduna United, while Sharks will engage Warri Wolves.

    Elsewhere, Heartland will encounter newcomers Nembe City FC, while Nasarawa United will play host to El- Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

    The star match of the NWL is the game between Delta Queens and Kogi Confluence Queens. Delta Queens are the NWL champions, while Kogi Queens are the runners-up.

    In other NWL matches, FCT Queens will confront Police Machine FC of Lagos; Tewo Queens of Ibadan will square up against Pelican Stars of Calabar; Rivers Angel will battle Sunshine Queens while Bayelsa Queens face Ibom Angels.