Rangers International captain, Chinemerem Ugwueze, has admitted that his side had “a bad day day the office” after a goalless draw with Elkanemi Warriors in the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season opener on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Flying Antelopes were expected to beat the President Federation Cup champions as they begin their title defense, but things did not go as planned at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as the Maiduguri side avoided defeat for the first time in ten visits to the Enugu side.
In a chat with NPFL media, Ugwueze said that the titleholders should have got a better result than the match’s outcome on the first day of the season.
“It’s a bad day at the office. The result wasn’t what we were expecting. I believe we are better than this but our plans didn’t go as mapped out. Really, it is just a bad day at the office,” the Rangers midfielder said.
However, the Rangers skipper acknowledged that their lack of goals upfront remains “a thing of concern,” especially after insipid performances in the CAF Champions League first round playoff win against Comoros Island’s US Zilimadjou and now followed by another poor display against Aliyu Zubairu’s El-Kanemi Warriors.
“Of course, it (our lack of goalscoring) is a thing of concern. Without goals there is no way you can win a game. We don’t want to use the word ‘a major problem’ considering the games we have played in the face of the goal drought. The league is just starting and I believe with time we will improve. It’s more difficult because of the CAF Champions League we have on ground. I believe with time we will get there.
“There is always room for improvement (for the new signings) of course. The old players, many of them played one season for Rangers and were fortunate enough to be crowned champions last season. I think the new players won’t be an exception as I believe with time if we work together definitely we will achieve (something),” said Ugwueze.
With games expected in the NPFL and in the CAF Champions League, Ugwueze believes the champions will bounce back in the coming games.
“We will do what we have to do (for the next games). The result was not okay for us but we will do what is necessary for us to do,” Ugwueze promised.
Rangers are expected to miss match day two of the new NPFL season as they will be facing Angolan side Sagrada Esperança in the first leg of their final CAFCL qualifying round.
