Rangers’ head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has described the upcoming second-leg clash against Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in the CAF Champions League as a “cup final.”
Nigeria’s reigning league champions head into the decisive second-leg encounter of the CAF Champions League preliminary round, carrying a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
The fixture is set to take place at the 48,500-capacity Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday, September 22, 2024, with kickoff scheduled for 15:30 Angolan time.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Ilechukwu emphasized the significance of the game, saying:
“We are going to Luanda to play this encounter as a cup final. Our opponents are very technical and have fast players but we have done our duties on how to contain them and push our way into the group stage of the competition.
It will be a difficult match but I am optimistic of a positive result.”
Captain of the team, Chinemerem Ugwueze, echoed his coach’s confidence, stating:
“We are very focused and have put in a lot in preparing for the second leg encounter against Sagrada Esperanca. I think that with the intensive training we have done since the end of the first leg, we are good to go and defend the badge of the club.
Sure, its going to be a high-pressure game but we have our work cut out and we are optimistic.”
The delegation, led by the club’s General Manager/CEO, Amobi Ezeaku, departed Enugu on Wednesday. They will spend the night in Lagos before flying to Luanda on Thursday to finalize preparations for the match.
Rangers are just one step away from reaching the group stages of Africa’s premier club competition, and they are determined to make it count.
