Exclusive News
Head coach of Total/CAF Confederation cup 2019/2020 hopefuls, Rangers
International F.C, Benedict Ugwu has assured the teaming fans of the
club that he and his wards have all the motivation and hunger to scale
through to the group stage of the competition ahead of their Togolese
opponents, A.S.C Kara in the two legged playoff round.
Surugede as the coach was fondly called in his active playing days for
club and country told StarSports exclusively that with the draws made
midweek in Cairo that pitched the ‘Flying Antelopes’ against reigning
Togolese league champions, Association Sportive Des Conducteurs De
Kara (A.S.C.K), he strongly believe that his team can make the group
stage even when he agrees that it would be tough.
“I agree perfectly that there is no small team any longer in African
football hence, we respect our opponent as champions of Togo league
but we have what it takes to overcome them and cruise into the group
stage of the competition. Surely, it would be a tough encounter but we
shall be in the group stage by God’ grace,” stated the one time third
best African footballer.
Ugwu, who agreed that the non start of the NPFL to a large extent,
contributed to the ouster of two of the country’ representatives on
the continent, further said, “Yes, I believe that the delay in the
start of our league contributed to the elimination of some of our
teams from the continent but our management foresaw this situation and
moved towards overcoming it with series of friendly matches that has
helped us a lot in understanding while playing. There is nothing like
underrating our opponent. They earned their place to contest in this
round and we shall approach both legs with all the attention it
deserves.”
Recall that the seven time Nigeria league champions earned a place in
this round of the competition after a 4-3 aggregate win over Gabonese
side, A.S Pelican while the Togolese league champions, dropped down to
the second tier of the continental competition after failing to make
the CAF Champions league group stage after a 1-0 aggregate loss to D.R
Congo side, A.S Vita in the second qualifying round.
Rangers will be flying into Lome to trade tackles with the Togolese
side at Stade de Kegue, Lome on October 27, 2019 with the return leg
scheduled for ‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu a week
later, November 3, 2019.
