Ouster from 2024/2025 CAF Champions League painful, says Rangers Coach, Ilechukwu

Posted : 23 September 2024

The reigning Nigeria league champions, Rangers International F.C. of Enugu, will play no further part in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 after a 3-2 aggregate loss to Angola’s G.D. Sagrada Esperança.

G.D. Sagrada Esperança secured a 3-1 victory in the second leg of the second preliminary round encounter, played at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Sunday, September 22.

The Flying Antelopes' coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, made three changes to the squad that earned a 1-0 win over the Angolans in the first leg, with Evans Ogbonda replacing Kenneth Igboke and Kazeem Ogunleye and Frank Uwumiro taking the places of Bashir Usman and Okorie Ekeson.

“It would have been a dream start for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ as Sagrada’s goalkeeper had to produce a spectacular reflex save to prevent Kazeem’s well-struck free kick from nestling in the net just two minutes into the encounter.

Four minutes later, the home side went ahead as Alexandre Fernando’s free kick from a similar distance bounced off the Rangers wall and sailed past Japhet Opubo, sending the large traveling fans of Sagrada into wild jubilation.

Chances came for the visiting side to draw level in the 27th and 30th minutes through Kenechukwu Agu and Kazeem Ogunleye, but goalkeeper Leonardo Mutunda was at his best to stop the ball from finding the net.

Meanwhile, in a counter-attacking move, Joaquim Teixeira extended the home side’s advantage by sweeping in an inviting cross from Fernando in the 33rd minute.

Anayor Ogbonna halved the deficit to tie the encounter in the 37th minute after the host's goalkeeper parried a goal-bound shot from Kenechukwu Agu, which fell kindly for the veteran Ogbonna to stab home, sending the large number of Nigerians that came out for the match into celebrations, with their metal gongs ringing out great melodies.

Substitute Filipe Pimpão capitalized on a defensive mix-up by the Rangers backline to score the back-breaking goal in the 67th minute, prompting celebratory moods among their supporters from Dundo.

Efforts by the eight-time Nigeria champions to push for an immediate response, which included two quick double substitutions, did not yield the desired results as the hosts sat back deep to defend their narrow lead, earning them a place in the group stage of the prestigious club competition on the continent.

Reacting to the exit, Ilechukwu said, “It was a painful loss. We created the chances but failed to convert them.

“My team has been struggling for goals for a few weeks now since the start of the new season. But I think we faced a strong team, and they deserve their win.

“I congratulate them. Sincerely, we believed we could have overcome this hurdle, but sadly, our continental aspirations end here in Angola.

“We have to go back home and continue our league, and hopefully, we shall return to the continent a better team.”

Rangers will now turn their attention to the NPFL with a rescheduled Match Day 2 fixture against Ikorodu City F.C., taking place on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Ouster from 2024/2025 CAF Champions League painful, says Rangers Coach, Ilechukwu

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