Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International, having strengthened their squad with new signings, are set to kick start the second stanza of this season on a good note when they play hosts to Niger Tornadoes at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu this Saturday from 3pm.
Having saw off Niger Tornadoes in the reverse fixture with a 1-0 at their Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, Rangers are now looking to complete the double on their opponents.
With the presence of most of the actors that navigated the Flying Antelopes to a fourth place finish in the first round and the addition of the likes of Ikechukwu Mgbemena, Ejike Uzoechi, Patrick Egeonu, Michael Uchebo, and Amobi Ezeaku to the squad, followers of the champions will hope their team can defend their title.
Taking a look into the coming fixture, defender Austin Opara, who appeared in every minute of matches of the first round, said: “It would be a difficult second stanza but we have our work cut out which is to ensure that we make Enugu a fortress and as Tornadoes visits, they would want to get something from the game but we are focused on starting the second round on a good note. I believe we have what it takes to effectively challenge for the title again.”
On his part, left-back, Evans Ogbonda, echoed the optimism of his teammate stressing that “we have been working hard since we resumed from the break and I believe that Niger Tornadoes won’t be a stumbling block towards our starting the second stanza on a good note. I know that they will come with everything but we know what starting the second round with a win means for our target this season.”
Match winner in the reverse fixture, Bashir Usman, who was carried shoulder high by his fans back in Minna after his wonder goal is also optimistic going into this weekend’s fixture against his former employers.
“No two matches are the same but with the level of preparations we have done ahead of the match, I believe that we shall get a very good result against Niger Tornadoes. They are no pushovers, so we shall play them with respect,” Usman said.
The Flying Antelopes would be looking to maintain their dominance over Ikon Allah as has been the case in the last 24 encounters between both sides as the Enugu side have enjoyed 10 victories as against three wins for the Minna-based side with 11 matches ending in draw.
On current form, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu boasts of three wins, two draws and a loss in his last six league fixtures in charge while Tornadoes head coach Maaji Mohammed has guided his side to two wins and four losses in their last six matches.
• Rangers International Media