Head coach of Rangers International FC, Gbenga Ogunbote says ending well will be paramount to his team when they face Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in their final group game of the CAF Confederation Cup in Enugu on Sunday.
Ogunbote in a chat with www.aclsports.com on Saturday once again rued his team’s poor displays against Etoile Sportive du Sahel earlier in the group stage (especially in their last home game) but insists they are pretty much focused on winning against Etoile’s compatriots on Sunday.
“We had careless moments when we played against Etoile du Sahel and we got punished for that,” said Ogunbote to www.aclsports.com
“We have the opportunity of redeeming our names and we will do our best on Sunday God willing to make sure that we finish well. All we just need is victory, nothing but the victory.”
For Rangers to qualify, they must first beat Sfaxien under the afternoon sunshine in Enugu while hoping that Burkinabe side Salitas upset the odds by winning in Sousse against Etoile, a permutation that worries Ogunbote.
‘I’m a little bit worried because we’re at the mercy of the result of the other game but that notwithstanding, the most important thing is for us to finish well, then we will see what happens.
“There is nothing impossible,” said the former Sunshine Stars coach.
Rangers’ opponents on Sunday, CS Sfaxien are already through to the quarterfinal stage of the competition regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s games. Ogunbote has kind words for the Tunisians even if he’s hopeful of a win.
“They (CS Sfaxien) are not a bad side. One thing you need to do is to respect the North African sides.
“They know the politics of the game and they have what it takes to play in the continent but be it as it may, we gave it to them over there and here is a more comfortable area for us to exploit.”
Rangers will be without centre back Semiu Liadi who was red carded in their last game at Salitas while defensive midfielder Solomon Okpako will also miss after receiving his second yellow card of the group stage campaign in the same match.
The match will kickoff at 2pm Nigerian time with Angolan referee Heldér Martin de Carvalho in charge of proceedings.
