CAF CL Play-Off: Ogunleye to the Rescue, As Wasteful Rangers Int’l Edge Sangada Esperenca of Angola
By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Reigning Nigerian champions, Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu will take a slim advantage, to the second and decisive leg, of their second leg, second preliminary round of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League, against Sangada Esperenca FC, Vice-Champions of Angola.
In the first leg played on Friday in Uyo, Rangers needed a late goal (78th minute) from substitute, and former Plateau United midfielder, Kazeem Ogunleye to edge the visitors 1-0, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, in Uyo.
No Nigerian side has been able to make it to the lucrative group phase in the last two seasons, but Head Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu is adamant that his wards will get it right in Luanda, and book their place in the group phase.
“It’s a game we planned very well, but I am a bit disappointed with how the players approached the match from the beginning. We threw away many scoring chances”, Ilechukwu moaned.
He however noted that, rather than criticize the players, or put them under more pressure; he and his backroom staff will continue to encourage them because the tie is delicately poised, and the Flying Antelopes will have a head start in Luanda, having won 1-0 in Uyo.
“We are happy to have won with a solitary goal, but in Luanda, we will need to score and anything is still possible; because the visitors are a good side, if you consider how they tried to neutralize us in the second half, it is clear that they have players that can give us problems”, he asserted.
The return leg in Luanda, capital of Angola is on September 22; and Ilechukwu is banking on fit again Ogunleye, who came in from the bench to net the only goal; and a closely knit defence to propel the NPFL Champions to the group phase.
