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Tag: Rangers

  • Balogun targets another Scottish League title with Rangers

    Balogun targets another Scottish League title with Rangers

    Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun is looking forward to the start of the new Scottish Premiership season and want to win the league title with Rangers again.
    Balogun joined Rangers last summer and played a key role in the club’s title success.

    The central defender has not enjoyed a full summer break in a long time having international football to contend with Nigeria.

    Balogun also arrived Rangers last summer, having finished up playing with Wigan Athletic.

    “Last season I didn’t really have a break – I came straight off playing games, but this year, I had a break so it is very important, as for everyone else,”he told Rangers TV.

    “It is my first full pre-season in a long time as I have always been away on internationals, so it is good to feel your body like that again as I always say this is the time where you can break through some limits that you had before and set some new limits, and also work on the mental side, working through the fatigue and that pain that you have sometimes.

    “So I welcome it – even though it hurts at times!

    “We have our heads set on qualifying for the Champions League, and that has always been a dream for me.

    “We have to put in the work for that, but everyone really has that target set and is keen on that.

    “I am working under an amazing management team with some amazing players and some amazing talent, and it is elite, definitely.

    “The focus is high and I can sense that feeling of everyone wanting to replicate that winning feeling again as it has been so overwhelming and so nice that you don’t want to lose that.

    “It is something I have seen from the first day I came in, and it is quite contagious. If you look at the gym, you have a real culture there of everyone pushing on and working on weaknesses and working on strength as well just to make sure everybody is in the right state of mind and body as well.”

  • NPFL: MFM FC plots Rangers fall in Agege

    NPFL: MFM FC plots Rangers fall in Agege

    There are high expectations by Lagosians of their darling team, MFM FC, ahead of the critical match against the Rangers International of Enugu on Sunday, with their coach, Tony Bolus, saying the team will launch all attacking instincts to win the game.

    Basking from the euphoria of picking a hard-fought away point secured in the Match Day 4 encounter against Uyo-based Dakkada, Bolus said that a maximum points against second placed Rangers was non-negotiable.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Olukoya Boys will trade tackles with the Flying Antelope in the Match Day 5 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the soccer Temple, Agege Stadium at 4 p.m.

    Bolus in an interview with NAN on Saturday said he had taken time to study the pattern of play of the visitors, hence, he expects a positive result.

    “We have a positive mind as far as the game against Rangers International is concerned.

    “Like what we promised at the start of the league that we will not bargain our maximum points in our home ground, we want to get our three points.

    “We are promising our fans good play, goals and winning the game, so they should keep supporting us. We are not relenting because it is our home match.

    “We will be going all out with attacking instincts and we will be using five strikers from the wings because we have studied our opponents pattern of play,” he said.

    Bolus added that he would deploy attackers that could outrun his opponents defence line to create chances and score goals.

    “We are promising a good game and a good result,” he said.

    NAN reports that MFM had bagged seven points from the four matches played so far.

    The Olukoya Boys played a 2-1 win over Warri Wolves in the opening fixtures of the NPFL 2020/2021 season, but lost by a lone goal in the Match Day 2 to Lobi Stars at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.

    The Match Day 3 regarded as a South-West derby, saw the Olukoya Boys pip archrivals, Sunshine FC 1-0, at the Soccer Temple Agege, Lagos, and a well-deserved 1-1, an away point against Dakkada in Uyo.

    MFM currently occupy the 7th position of the NPFL table.

    Rangers on the other hand have nine points from four matches and placed 2nd on the NPFL table.

    The flying Antelope won its first match of the season 1-0 against Akwa United at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu in the Match Day 2 encounter.

    The Salisu Yusuf-tutored side, however, lost its outstanding Match Day 1 fixture against Rivers Utd. by a lone goal, but bounced back to pick a vital away point against Jigawa Golden Stars which ended 1-0.

    The Flying Antelope spanked Ifeanyi Uba FC at home 2-1 in the Match Day 4 encounter.

  • Rangers and Denmark great Laudrup wins cancer battle

    Rangers and Denmark great Laudrup wins cancer battle

    Former Rangers and Denmark forward Brian Laudrup said he has been given the all-clear from cancer after a 10-year battle.

    The 51-year-old was a decade ago diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma, a slow-growing form of blood cancer.

    “Today, after 10 years of treatment and check-ups, I finally got the all-clear for my Follicular Lymphoma cancer diagnosis,” Laudrup said on Instagram.

    “A huge `thank you’ to this amazing and wonderful medical staff at Rigshospitalet.”

    Laudrup made 116 appearances for Rangers between 1994 and 1998 and helped them to three successive Scottish league titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup.

    He also had spells at Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Ajax.

    Capped 82 times by Denmark, he was part of the side that defied the odds to win Euro 1992.

  • NPFL: Rangers optimistic of 3 points against Nasarawa United

    NPFL: Rangers optimistic of 3 points against Nasarawa United

    Rangers International FC of Enugu said they were optimistic of Picking the maximum points over Nasarawa United FC in rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 14 in Lafia.

    Rangers will on Wednesday battle Nasarawa United in a rescheduled NPFl match day 14 in Lafia.

    Speaking to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday, the club media officer Norbert Okolie said that the players were ready for the battle.

    According to him, ” some players who spoke to me after the match against Sunshine Stars FC were optimistic of good result in Lafia.

    “With moral boosting draw in a match day 21 fixture in Akure over the weekend, the coach Salisu Yusuf tutored side is confident of grabbing the maximum points.

    “Though, with the host current resurgence, it seems they have found their range with the return of long time club chairman, Barrister Isaac Danladi.

    “Two straight wins against Jigawa Golden Stars and Enyimba International in Lafia will no doubt make the Lafia faithful wish for a third win on the bounce, ” he said.

    He said that the club’s stand in captain, Tope Olusesi and other players were in no mood to lay low and be consumed in any venue.

    Okolie said that coach Salisu Yusuf would be having a full complement of players for the game as attacking sensation, Israel Abia was expected to be unleashed on the ‘Solid Miners.

    While the club defender, Isaac Loute hope to make a return as Ibrahim Olawoyin, Chinonso Eziekwe and Ifeanyi George look good to help the club picked a win on the road.

    “Sure, the host, who are with a full complement of their technical staff with the return of coach Bala Nikyu will be looking toward the trio of Ikenna Offor, Chinedu Ohanachom and Chidi Solomon to deliver the goods upfront.

    “They will also expect good coverage for Danlami Umar from the back four of Abubakar Abdullahi, Ebuka Anaekwe, Moses Tsehuan and Chineme Martins”.

    Okolie said that Rangers FC would go for the points despite the sudden up rise of the host in the league.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers occupied 15th position on the log with 25 after 18 matches while Nasarawa United 19th position with 22 points from 20 matches played.

  • NPFL: Rangers beat Kano Pillars in Enugu

    NPFL: Rangers beat Kano Pillars in Enugu

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Wednesday defeated Kano Pillars FC 1-0 in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 11 fixture in Enugu.

    Chinonso Eziekwe scored the only goal of the match in the 70th minute to send the home fans into wild jubilation.

    Speaking after the match, Rangers’ Assistant Coach, Mbwas Mangut, expressed joy over the outcome of the match.

    He said that the match was tough but they were grateful to God that they won.

    “We prepared well for this match, because it is one of the matches that we should be winning.

    “No doubt, the match could have gone either way as lots of chances were missed by the two teams, but we were lucky to have converted one.

    “But we should have sealed the win before the interval,” Mangut said.

    Kano Pillars FC’s coach Ibrahim Musa, on his part, said his team played better than their hosts, and blamed his players for missing lots of scoring opportunities.

    “Our target was to win this match and we created up to six to seven scoring chances, but we did not convert them.

    “Football is all about scoring, but we could not score and our opponents scored. So, we need to work hard next time if we want to score.

    “Now we have to go back to the drawing board and work on our finishing because we have to combine communication with finishing.

    “Rangers are a good team, but you cannot compare Rangers with Kano Pillars here because this is Rangers’ home,” Musa said.

    He said his team created scoring chances more than their hosts and were supposed to win the match, only to be let down by finishing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the win lifted Rangers to 16th from 17th on the log, with 23 points after 17 matches.

    Kano Pillars however dropped to the 9th position with 27 points after 19 matches.

  • NPFL Preview: Rangers, Pillars, Wikki stake unbeaten runs in difficult venues

    NPFL Preview: Rangers, Pillars, Wikki stake unbeaten runs in difficult venues

    It’s Match day 19, the midway point of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season and all indices point yet to another high octane competitiveness at all sections of the log.

    The pendulum of leadership have though been swinging between three clubs, Plateau United, Lobi Stars and Rivers United but they all know that others like Akwa United, Kano Pillars and surprise team of the season, Dakkada are fast on their heels.

    The fight is no different at the midsection of the log which has seen Abia Warriors, Katsina United, Heartland and perhaps defending champions, Enyimba doing all they can to stay away from the drop zone.

    That dreaded drop zone has harboured the likes of Adamawa United, Jigawa Golden Stars, Nasarawa United, Kwara United with Wikki Tourists and Rangers which making a late surge away from the group.

    But then the not too flattering tag of “mid-season champions” is poised to fall between North Central rivals Lobi Stars and Plateau United while other teams on the road of resurgence after below par starts face very herculean tasks at different away venues this weekend.

    On the lower rung of the ladder, teams are gradually coming to terms with the relegation dogfight that lies ahead of them in the second half of the season and so, such battle to avoid the ignominious drop intensifies from Match Day 19, this weekend.

    Plateau United can seal the “Mid-season champions” tag when they feature in the weekend’s curtain raiser against Dakkada FC in Uyo on Saturday.

    Out of the last 10 teams on top of the table at midway point (including Lobi Stars in the 2018 season and minus last season being an abridged season), the Mid-season champions have gone on to win the league eight times.

    This should be juicy for Abdu Maikaba and his Plateau stars but they know they are in for a very difficult task at the Nest of Champions against Dakkada FC who have punched above their weights and could go level on points with Plateau, should they win on Saturday.

    Lobi Stars have the privilege of knowing what Plateau United would have played on Saturday before facing Wikki Tourists at the Aper Aku Stadium on Sunday.

    The aura of invincibility that surrounded Gbenga Ogunbote’s Lobi in recent weeks, has gradually eroded and they face a Wikki side unbeaten under new coach Usman Abd’Allah (One win, three draws and no loss) .

    Rangers International seem to have turned the corner under Salisu Yusuf.

    The Flying Antelopes have overcome a dreadful start under the Super Eagles coach and are now unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions including three wins in four league outings.

    They will, however, face an Akwa United side in Uyo (where they have lost just once in last three visits) on Sunday in what should be another stern test after Wednesday’s point at Lobi Stars.

    Kano Pillars visit troubled MFM FC at the Agege Township Stadium on Sunday.

    While MFM are winless in their last four matches, Pillars are on the threshold of an unprecedented record in the Nigerian league.

    They are currently 13 games unbeaten and need just one more game to surpass Enyimba’s 15-year old record.

    Nigeria’s remaining continental hopeful Enyimba FC will face their state rivals Abia Warriors in the Abia Classico on Sunday.

    Enyimba, only on Wednesday, ended a run of six domestic games without a win when they beat MFM in Lagos and will hope to steer further clear of relegation issues with a win against a side they have only lost against twice in nine league outings.

    In Kano on Sunday, Jigawa Golden Stars face Nasarawa United at the Sani Abacha Stadium in a relegation six-pointer, while basement side Adamawa United have Heartland FC as their guests at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe.

    In the other games, league’s joint topscorer, Tasiu Lawal will hope to add to his tally when Katsina United host Warri Wolves at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium; Sunshine Stars will welcome FC Ifeanyiubah to Akure while Kwara United will be the guests of Rivers United in Port Harcourt.

    The full NPFL Match Day 19 fixtures

    Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020

    Dakkada FC vs Plateau United

    Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020

    Adamawa United vs Heartland FC
    Enyimba vs Abia Warriors
    Jigawa Golden Stars vs Nasarawa United
    Katsina United vs Warri Wolves
    MFM FC vs Kano Pillars
    Rivers United vs Kwara United
    Akwa United vs Rangers Int’l
    Lobi Stars vs Wikki Tourists
    Sunshine Stars vs FC Ifeanyiubah.

  • NPFL: Rangers target good result against Lobi Stars FC in Markudi

    NPFL: Rangers target good result against Lobi Stars FC in Markudi

    Salisu Yusuf, the Rangers International Football Club of Enugu Technical Adviser, said that the club has perfected plans to get a decent result against Lobi Stars FC of Markudi.

    Lobi Stars FC will be hosting Rangers FC in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rescheduled match day six on Wednesday in Markudi.

    Yusuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday that the club had prepared very well for the battle in Markudi.

    “We have prepared well, induced the player with what they need to know and what is expected of them in the match.

    ”Though, this match is like a derby because Lobi Stars FC coach worked with Rangers FC few months ago.

    ”I think with the preparation we have had, we are going there to get a positive result as we are now channeling all our efforts to the league,” he said.

    He said that it was never the club`s intention to exit the ongoing confederation cup at the group stage.

    ”It has happened and now we are determined to repay our numerous fans and the Enugu State Government with a continental slot come next season,” he said.

    He said that it would be a big task for the club considering its current position on the log.

    ”Yes, we are on 18th position in the league log with six outstanding matches.

    ”By the time we finish executing all these matches, we will be rubbing shoulder with the teams already in the continental position of the league.

    ”We have lots of talented players to prosecute the matches and the upcoming federation cup,” the coach said.

    Yusuf noted that the club recently added four good players to the team so that it can rotate the players.

    The new players are: Isreal Abia formally of Sunshine Stars FC, Ifeanyi Nweke from Kano Pillars FC, Ifebu Ojukwu from Fakkada FC and Franklin Ebuka from Wikki Tourist FC.

    He expressed satisfaction with the reduction in the club injury woes, saying that the club injured players are responding well to treatment.

    ”The injury we have in the club at the moment is not like the ones at the beginning of the league,” he said.

    NAN reports that Rangers now occupy the 18th position on the league log with 15 points after 12 matches from the 18 weeks old league.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers beat Pelicans to seal pre-group stage playoffs spot

    CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers beat Pelicans to seal pre-group stage playoffs spot

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have sealed a place in the the pre-group stage playoffs of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

    This was after they thrashed AS Pelicans of Gabon 3-1 in the return leg match of the second preliminary round on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flying Antelopes went through 4-3 on aggregate, having lost 1-2 in the first leg match about two weeks earlier.

    The hosts came out fighting immediately after the kick-off and fired a warning shot to the Gabonese side after two minutes.

    This was when defender Semiu Liadi directed his headed effort into the side netting from a Chidera Eze free-kick at the edge of the Pelicans penalty box.

    But three minutes later, Liadi went into the referee’s book when he tripped goalbound Cruz Ndong Enteghe on the edge of Rangers penalty box.

    Dertin Amores wasted no effort and planted a left foot kick into the top corner to give Pelicans a shock lead in the fifth minute.

    Having gone behind so early in the game, the Flying Antelopes poured out in numbers, piling series of attacks into their opponents’ vital area in search of goals.

    The chances came in trickles but poor decisions in the final third cost them time and again.

    Their efforts were, however, rewarded in the 19th minute when Ifeanyi George took advantage of a moment of indecision between Pelicans’ defenders and the goalkeeper to head in the equaliser.

    Rangers grew in confidence, dominant in their play and had an appeal for a penalty kick waved away by the referee when Tope Olusesi went to the ground inside the box under a slight challenge.

    But the ball came back gloriously to George who fired inches over the crossbar when he should have scored.

    Both sides went into the half-time break on equal terms with the visitors holding a 3-2 aggregate advantage.

    Rangers came back in the second period more dominant as highlighted by two quick goals.

    Nnamdi Egbujuo headed in from a corner kick five minutes after the restart to give the hosts a 2-1 lead and 3-3 on aggregate.

    Five minutes later, Oluwatoyin Olawoyin made it 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate for Rangers when he scrambled in the ball during a goalmouth tussle.

    Coach Benedict Ugwu refreshed his team’s attack early in the second half, leading to the rush of goals, with the introduction of Chinonso Ezekwe for Chidera Eze.

    He later substituted veteran Bartholomew Ibenegbu for Kenechukwu Agu as the home side pressed for more goals.

    With 12 minutes left on the clock, Pelicans forward Odile Ombio forced a fantastic save from Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo, following a cross from the right flank.

    With the 3-1 advantage on the night, Rangers resorted to game management and defended in numbers to contain the now adventurous Pelicans strikers to run away victors at the end of a pulsating encounter.

  • CAF Confederation Cup : Rangers lose 1- 2 to AS Pelican in Libreville

    CAF Confederation Cup : Rangers lose 1- 2 to AS Pelican in Libreville

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Saturday lost 1 – 2 to Gabonese club, AS Pelican in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup, first round clash in Libreville.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hosts raced to a two-goal lead early in the game before Nnamdi Egbujuo reduced the deficit for the Flying Antelopes before the break.

    Rangers fought hard to get the much needed equaliser but fell short against a resolute Pelican defence.

    The Enugu club side will need to score at least a goal in the reverse fixture without conceding to scale through to the next round.

    The second leg will be played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sept. 29.

    NAN also reports that the Flying Antelopes are looking to become the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Confederation Cup.

  • Nigeria has lost 20 Rangers since 1991 – National Park Service

    The National Park Service says Nigeria has lost 20 Rangers since its inception in 1991.
    Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General, National Park Service disclosed this at a pre-event news conference to mark the 2019 World Rangers Day in Abuja on Tuesday.
    Goni said the World Rangers Day is celebrated round the world on July 31 to commemorate rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the bravery of those on the field.
    He said that the day was also to celebrate the critical work rangers perform in protecting the world’s natural and agricultural treasures.
    “Nigeria has lost 20 rangers and a few others have been injured or maimed since inception of the national park in 1991.
    “In the last five years, 1, 860 suspects have been arrested for various offences; some have been prosecuted, jailed, served jail time, paid the fine, or warned and released in line with the provision of the national park service.
    “The service however is not relenting in its efforts in ensuring the welfare of our Rangers in terms of training and capacity building, support of families of fallen heroes, prompt payment of salaries and welfare.
    “This will not only boost their ego but make them to feel they are part of the system.”
    Goni said that Rangers all over the world were underequipped and underpaid and under-honoured and because they work in the remote areas media hardly captured their activities “and this is a major challenge’’.
    He said the Federal Government was making efforts to ensure the national parks have sufficient staff to meet the demands of the national parks.
    Goni said Federal Government had approved 120 more staff for the national park bringing the total number to 2,100, adding “they are still insufficient because not all are field staff’’.
    He commended the Federal Government for allocating of over 50 per cent capital allocation to the agency for the first time this year, which he said had helped the service resolve some challenge to some extent.
    “Every officer now enjoys the paramilitary payment structure, we have acquired some patrol vehicles and released them to some parks and also rehabilitated some tourist facilities in some of our parks.
    “We are gradually acquiring technology and working with the office of the National Securit Adviser so we can be licensed to use our drones to collect information and monitor the activities in the parks.
    “This will not only save us time, and reduce expenditure on rangers and vehicles, it will also improve our monitoring activities because information will be gathered in the shortest possible time. ”
    Speaking on the effects of insecurity in the country on tourism, Goni said there had been a decline in tourism since 1998 till date.
    “Most tourists visit places that are security safe and our national parks are located in the remote parts of the country, so tourist hardly visit there except the ones in the South.’’
    He said the North West and North East had a decline of tourists because of the security challenges.
    He said activities lined up for the celebration of the 2019 World Rangers Day include a parade which would be hosted by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment at the Park headquarters and awareness creation on the work of a ranger.
    World Ranger Day is celebrated around the world on July 31 annually on the anniversary of the founding of the International Ranger Federation (IRF), an organisation that supports the work of rangers as the key protectors of parks and conservation.