BY SAB OSUJI

Rangers International have been handed a gritty tie in their opening 2024/2024 CAF Champions League preliminary round after the 8th time NPFL winners were drawn against Union Sportive Zilimadjou of Comoros following draw ceremony in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Union Sportive Zilimadjou are also Comoros league champions, thus, painting a clear picture of a potential tough match in the14,000 capacity Baumer Stadium, Moroni, capital of Comoros, on either 16, 17, or 18 August, 2024.

The Coal City Flying Antelopes are billed to travel to Union Sportive Zilimadjou for the first leg fixture, with the reverse tie billed for the 'Cathedral', Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, a week later.

Union Sportive Zilimadjou was formed in 1983 has won the Comoros league four times and equally annexed the domestic Cup thrice, a clear testament of their strenght and quality, a significant reminder to Fidelis Ilechukwu and his charges that the trip to Moroni isn't gonna be a 'walk in the park'.

31-year-old forward, Youssouf Mohamed and 29-year-old Mohamed Anoir Chamoune are Union Sportive Zilimadjou's key men upfront, on whose shoulders the club's goal scoring responsibilities lies.

Similarly, Moussa Issihaka, represents a supreme epitome of confidence for the club in between the sticks.

But Fidelis Ilechukwu ‘The Working One’ is not losing sleep as he believes the Antelopes have a tough game at hand. He restates days of 'under dogs' in football are gone and that at the moment, every game is bound to be tough and every opponent a potential difficult enemy.

“No team is a small team in the continent anymore", Ilechukwu told Rangers media after the draw that saw his team against the Comoros champions. 

"We respect our opponent in the Total Energies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 preliminary round, U.S. Zilimadjou of Comoros. 

"We shall give our preparation ahead of the encounter all the attention it deserves. Don’t forget that we are still building this team and we must be up and doing to ensure that we make an impact in the continental championship", Ilechukwu submitted.