Enugu Rangers are determined to begin their CAF Champions League campaign on a winning note when they face Beninese champions AS Sobemap of Porto-Novo in the first leg of their preliminary round tie on Sunday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Flying Antelopes will host the visitors at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, with the nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions aiming to secure a healthy advantage before the return fixture in Porto-Novo.
Rangers chairman Amobi Ezeaku has urged the team to approach the encounter with the right mentality, insisting they are prepared to battle until the final whistle.
“We will come out and push till the end in our clash against AS Sobemap of Porto-Novo on Sunday,” Ezeaku said.
The Rangers chairman pointed to the team’s resilience in their NPFL opener against Katsina United, where they scored a late equaliser, as evidence of their fighting spirit.
“The evidence of our strong mentality was in our league opener against Katsina United, where we got the goal in the last minutes,” he added.
Rangers head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, who also serves as an assistant coach of the Super Eagles, said the team has moved on from the league disappointment and is fully focused on the continental assignment.
“I will not blame my players (for the draw) because they are the best and we will give them the confidence to go again.”
Ilechukwu added that the Champions League encounter provides Rangers with an opportunity to make up for their missed chances against Katsina United, describing the result as a mistake the team is determined to rectify.
Ezeaku has also appealed to Rangers supporters in Abeokuta to come out in numbers and provide the necessary backing as the club represents Nigeria on the continental stage.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel for us. We hope more fans will come out. This is Rangers representing the country,” he said.
The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the second preliminary round, where they will meet the winner of the clash between ASN Nigelec and MC Alger.