Nigeria’s remaining representative in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) Rangers International have departed the country for Gabon ahead of this weekend’s clash with AS Pelican in Libreville.
The Flying Antelopes were drawn bye from the preliminary stage of the 2019/20 Confederation Cup following their run to the group stage last term. They have now travelled for their first leg, first round tie billed for Saturday.
The team comprising of eighteen (18) players and six officials left via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for Libreville, the Gabonese capital at about 4:45pm local time on Thursday.
Good to Go!!! Our players get updated with the new laws of the game from retired FIFA badge referee, C.C Chukwujekwu. We depart Lagos this afternoon for Libraville for the CAFCC match with A.S Pelican #NeverSayDie pic.twitter.com/LBbpSu4F2e
— Rangers Int. FC (@RangersIntFC) September 12, 2019
Rangers are now coached by former defender Benedict “Surugede” Ugwu and have strengthened their squad with a number of new players including the former Enyimba duo of old warhorse Ikechukwu Ibenegbu and defender Uche John.
Rising youngster Ibrahim Olawoyin who joins from Oriental rivals Abia Warriors and former Heartland star Nnamdi Egbujuor were also on the plane to Gabon.
Head coach Ugwu says his team have high hopes of getting a good result in spite of the circumstances they have to face.
“I have a strong belief that with the talents at our disposal and the training regime we have gone through in the pre-season, we shall come back with a good result by God’s grace.
“We don’t know much of our opponent but our preparations have always been to play against any opponent. Surely, it won’t be easy as there are no more ‘small’ teams in the game.
“They (AS Pelican) did well in the preliminary round but I believe that we have all it takes to stop them in this round,” said Ugwu.
Saturday’s first leg game is billed for the Stade d’Angondje in Libreville and will start at 5pm local time (same time in Nigeria).
