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Tag: Rangers

  • SAD! Enugu governor, Mbah retires Christian Chukwu’s Rangers jersey No.5

    SAD! Enugu governor, Mbah retires Christian Chukwu’s Rangers jersey No.5

    The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has said that the state is retiring the iconic No.5 jersey worn by the late Nigerian football legend, Christian Chukwu, during his playing days with Rangers International.

    Chukwu passed away on April 12, at the age of 74. He was a‪ former Super Eagles captain and head coach of the senior national team.

    The Enugu State governor made the declaration to honour Chukwu during the Night of Tributes held in his honour on Thursday.

    Mbah said: “As a fitting tribute to his exploits as a central defender, we will be retiring the iconic number 5 jersey that Chairman Chukwu proudly wore throughout his Rangers career.”

    ‎The governor also pledged that the State Government would take responsibility for the welfare of 109 former Rangers players.

    He equally said the state would work with the Federal Government to further immortalise Chukwu’s name.

    “Through these steps, future generations will walk paths illuminated by Chukwu’s ideals,” Mbah said.

    Chukwu, popularly known as “Chairman” was born in Enugu, and widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest defenders of all time.

    Chukwu, revered for his leadership and defensive mastery, captained both Enugu Rangers and the Nigerian national team, leading the country to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.

    He later managed the Super Eagles and Rangers, earning respect for his discipline, humility, and commitment to the game.

  • NPFL: Nasarawa Utd stun Rangers

    NPFL: Nasarawa Utd stun Rangers

    Nasarawa United Football Club pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory against third-placed Rangers International Football Club in a thrilling Matchday 30 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The highly anticipated match, played behind closed doors at the Lafia Township Stadium on Friday, saw the home team seize the initiative, boosting their chances of escaping relegation.

    The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Kabir Balogun calmly converted a penalty, sealing a crucial win for the Lafia-based side.

    This upset lifted Nasarawa United out of the relegation zone, moving them to 15th place on the NPFL table with 36 points.

    In spite of the loss, Rangers international remain in third place with 45 points.

    In a post-match interview, Nasarawa United’s head coach, Yusuf Salisu, admitted his team had been under pressure due to their precarious league position but was pleased with the result.

    He emphassed the importance of maintaining momentum in the remaining matches of the season.

    On the other hand, Rangers’ coach, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, acknowledged his team’s efforts but lamented the loss.

    He said that they had moved past the defeat and would focus on upcoming fixtures to strengthen their title hopes.

  • Rangers dominate Kwara United with 3-0 win

    Rangers dominate Kwara United with 3-0 win

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu defeated Kwara United FC of Ilorin 3-0 on Saturday in week 29 of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL).

    The match, played at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, started at a high tempo in spite of the challenging high-altitude conditions.

    The home team took the lead within two minutes when Chidiebere Okolie dribbled past the goalkeeper, sending the stadium into celebration.

    The Flying Antelopes doubled their lead in the 29th minute through a swift counter-attack led by Saviour Isaac, who finished the move himself.

    Rangers continued their dominant display after the break and were rewarded in the 60th minute when Godwin Uwumiro capitalised on a defensive mix-up to make it 3-0.

    NAN reports that the victory moved Rangers to third place, strengthening their chances of qualifying for CAF competitions.

    In his post-match interview, Rangers’ head coach, Kenechukwu Ekene, praised his team’s performance.

    “Today, we played well, and it was a good result. Against Akwa United, we tried to get three points but couldn’t. Today, we got the win,” he said.

    Kwara United coach, Tunde Sani, blamed the defeat on his players’ costly errors.

    “They made too many mistakes, especially my most trusted players,” he said.

  • NPFL: Rangers edge Remo stars 2-1 in thrilling encounter

    NPFL: Rangers edge Remo stars 2-1 in thrilling encounter

    Rangers International FC of Enugu on Sunday defeated Remo Stars FC of Ikene, 2-1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in the week 24, of the Nigeria Premier  Football League (NPFL).

    Midfielder Saviour Isaac put Rangers ahead in the 30th minute through a free kick outside the 18 yard box.

    Before the goal, both teams missed several scoring chances to take the lead.

    On the resumption of second half, Rangers made it 2-0 in the 48th minute to put pressure on the  league leaders.

    CHAN Eagles Kenneth Igboke’s through pass found a well positioned Kingsley Maduforo who made no mistake in putting the ball  behind the net.

    Remo stars pulled one back in the 85th minute through Haruna who pounced on a loose ball .

    In spite the loss, Remo stars maintained the lead  on the log with 48 points while Rangers moved to the fourth position with 38 points.

    In a post match interview, the Technical Adviser of Rangers,  Fidelis Ilechukwu hailed the fighting spirit of his boys.

    “I salute their doggedness; they worked hard and I am proud of them, ” he said.

    The Chief Coach of Remo stars, Daniel Ogunmodede said that Rangers’ never say die spirit gave them the victory..

    “They defended well and got a good victory, we look forward to the next match, ” he said.

  • FG ready to employ rangers to protect electricity assets nationwide

    FG ready to employ rangers to protect electricity assets nationwide

    The Federal Government has decided to set up a special security team to protect its power installations and infrastructure.

    We have decided now with the Minister of Power to have what we call the power rangers,” Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said on Friday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily.

    The ‘power rangers’ will be created with officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and will be responsible for stopping the vandalism of power infrastructure which has caused blackouts across the country.

    Amid growing reports of vandals damaging power installations and outcry over frequent blackouts sometimes caused by vandalism, the minister said it was critical to find a unique solution to the problem.

    The decision to set up the power rangers, he said, was influenced by the successes of the Mines Marshalls unveiled by the Federal Government in March 2024 to tackle security challenges in the mining sector.

    “What we had before we (the Bola Tinubu administration) came was the generalisation of national assets. But we said no, you cannot have one specific medication that can treat all illnesses,” he said.

    “So you have to analyse every sector, the power sector, the water sector, the education sector, the health sector… and be able to create arms of Civil Defence under the same umbrella.”

    Although the decision has been made to set up the ‘power rangers’, the minister didn’t provide a date for the unit to be unveiled or inaugurated.

    Instead, he explained some of the steps being taken to create the unit.

    “We’ve already agreed on the modus operandi and as I speak to you, the offices are being screened,” he said.

    “Don’t forget that we are going to have officers in all 36 states plus the FCT because there is no state without a power infrastructure; it is just like the solid mineral sector.

  • Europa: Fernandes scores late as Man Utd beat Rangers

    Europa: Fernandes scores late as Man Utd beat Rangers

    Bruno Fernandes marked his 50th Europa League appearance on Thursday with a stoppage-time winner as Manchester United snatched a 2-1 win over Rangers.

    The win moves United  closer to the round of 16.

    After Cyriel Dessers levelled in the 88th minute, Fernandes popped up with a crucial strike that will come as a huge relief to Ruben Amorim.

    United had seen a first-half header from Matthijs De Ligt controversially ruled out but led through a bizarre own goal from their former back-up goalkeeper Jack Butland.

    The win moves United up to fourth in the standings, two clear of the cut off for the top eight places.

    But Rangers, who at least scored against United for the first time in five meetings, dropped to 13th, with the play-offs looming large.

  • CAF CL: Rangers beat Zilimadjou 2-1 on aggregate, advance to second round

    CAF CL: Rangers beat Zilimadjou 2-1 on aggregate, advance to second round

    Enugu Rangers have advanced to the second round of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League qualifiers after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Union Sportive de Zilimadjou of Comoros in Uyo.

     

    The Flying Antelopes, who entered the match with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, only needed a draw to progress. They secured this with a gritty 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

     

    Despite being strong favorites due to their home advantage and recent league success, Rangers faced a determined Zilimadjou side. The Comorodian club defended resolutely in the first half, but Agu Kenechukwu broke the deadlock for Rangers in the 79th minute. Zilimadjou, however, quickly responded with an equalizer just six minutes later.

     

    Rangers will now prepare to face the winner of the tie between Seychelles’ Saint-Louis Suns United and Angola’s G.D. Sagrada Esperança in the second round. Sagrada Esperança are currently in a strong position to advance after a 1-0 win in the first leg.

     

    A victory in the second round would see Enugu Rangers qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage, marking a major milestone for the Nigerian club.

  • Rangers coach, Ilechukwu eyes Super Eagles Assistant coach job

    Rangers coach, Ilechukwu eyes Super Eagles Assistant coach job

    Rangers head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has expressed his enthusiasm about the possibility of being named assistant coach of the Super Eagles.

    He considers it an honor and a great opportunity to take his career to the next level. Ilechukwu, who led Rangers to win the Nigeria Premier Football League title last season, is among the local coaches being considered for the role.

    He pledged his support for the team’s success in the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, regardless of whether he gets the position or not. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to appoint a permanent head coach for the Super Eagles.

  • CAF CC: Rangers storm Uyo for Zilimadjou clash

    CAF CC: Rangers storm Uyo for Zilimadjou clash

    A strong delegation of 26 players, including coaches, backroom staff, and top management officials from Rangers International of Enugu, has safely arrived in Uyo for the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 preliminary round fixture against U.S. Zilimadjou of Comoros Islands, who are hosting their home game in Nigeria.

     

    The team, led by double award-winning Coach of the Season Fidelis Ilechukwu, is eager to represent the club and Nigeria in their return to continental football after four seasons.

    The players have been undergoing an intense three-week training regime in Enugu under Coach Ilechukwu and his assistants, preparing to face the Comoros league champions who arrived in the country on Wednesday.

     

    Flying Antelopes’ captain, Ugwueze Chinemerem, expressed optimism about securing a good result ahead of the return leg, scheduled for Friday, August 23, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. “We respect our opponent but we shall do the needful, by God’s special grace, on the field of play. We have intensified our training since the preparation for the new season started and with the level of motivation in our team, we shall come out with a good result,” he said.

     

    Assistant captain and goalkeeper, Opubo Japhet, shared his confidence in the team’s ability to achieve a positive result on Sunday in Uyo. “I believe we have all it takes to get a good result on Sunday in Uyo.

    Though not much is known about our opponent, we give them their respect as the champions of Comoros but we have our game plans,” he stated.

  • Champions League:CAF approves Remo Stars stadium, forces Rangers to Uyo

    Champions League:CAF approves Remo Stars stadium, forces Rangers to Uyo

    Nigerian champions Rangers will play their CAF Champions League home games at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    The Flying Antelopes adopted this venue after failing to secure CAF’s approval for their home ground, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. In the first preliminary round of the competition, Rangers will face Union Sportive Zilimadjou from Comoros.

     

    Meanwhile, Remo Stars received approval to host their home games in Ikenne. The Sky Blue Stars will compete against AS FAR of Morocco in the first preliminary round.

    The first and second legs of these matches are scheduled for next month.

    They are expected to play three preliminary games on home and away basis before making it to the group stage of the money spinning CAF champions League.