Rangers rue missed opportunity against El-Kanemi in league opener

Defending champions, Enugu Rangers began their journey to retain their title with a draw against El-kanemi Warriors, at the weekend, a game their coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, described as their worst in recent times.

But not deterred by the outcome, Ilechukwu said his side would go back to re-strategise ahead of the remaining games of the season.

The NPFL kicked off at the weekend with only one game between Rangers and El-Kanemi. The other teams will join the fray next weekend in the various centers across the country.

Ilechukwu said the game against El-Kanemi has opened his eyes to the enormous job he needs to do on his team, as they prepare for an important two-legged affair against Angola’s Sagrada Esperança in the CAF Champions League second-round playoff.

“It’s a general (team problem) thing. We have to sit down and analyse everything that happened today. (In this game) we did less than what people expected of us, and even what we expected from ourselves. We won’t kill ourselves though it is a disappointing outcome but we must forge ahead.

“It is very concerning (ahead of our CAF Champions League match against Angola’s Sagrada). This same (performance) thing happened in our last game on the continent and when things like this happen you have to realise that we have to sit down and start analysing our stats and putting heads together to find a solution especially as we have some days ahead to prepare for the next game,” Ilechukwu said.

Rangers will face Sagrada Esperança at home on the weekend of September 13 and 15 before heading to Angola the following weekend for the return leg with their league fixtures against Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United on match days 2 and 3 in view.

Also speaking on the draw, Rangers captain,