Enugu Rangers head coach Imama Amapakabo says his side already have ‘one hand on the trophy’ as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) winds up this weekend.
Rangers will emerge this season’s NPFL champions if they avoid defeat against El Kanemi Warriors in their final league game of the season in Enugu on Sunday.
Even a 1-0 defeat to El Kanemi Warriors will still not stop Rangers from celebrating their first league triumph in 32 years as long as their closest challengers, Rivers United do not register a massive victory in Uyo against Akwa United in their final league game of the campaign.
“Rangers have one hand on the trophy but we still have 90 minutes to play (against El Kanemi Warriors) and in football anything can happen,” Amapakabo told supersport.com.
The youthful trainer added that he would not adopt a conservative approach against El Kanemi Warriors, even with the knowledge that a point on Sunday would be enough to secure the title.
“I always press high and try to strangulate my opposition no matter where I play, home or away, and Sunday's game won't be different,” he said.
Rangers have already secured qualification for next season’s Caf Champions League and Amapakabo insists that continuity must be maintained if success is to be replicated on the continent next season.
“We can only succeed on the continent by having continuity and adding a few players in certain positions,” he explained.
Rangers currently occupy top spot in the NPFL standings with 60 points from 35 matches.