Reigning Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Rangers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over US Zilimadjou of the Comoros in a first-leg match of the CAF Champions League, held in Uyo.
The match served as a home leg for the Comoros side, as no stadium in the Comoros met the required standards for approval.
Despite their reputation and pedigree, Rangers struggled to break down their opponents and could only manage a single goal win.
Frank Uwumiro scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute amidst a flurry of missed chances by the Enugu side.
Ilechukwu explains Rangers underperformance
This result fell short of the comfortable victory many had anticipated, given the disparity in the stature of the two teams.
Facing the press after the game, Rangers’ coach Fidelis Ilechukwu alluded to the absence of striker Godwin Obaje, who was the club's top scorer last season..
“Obaje is a top-class player, he's one of the best strikers in Nigeria who's very good around the box. If you ask me more about him, I would call him the best player in Nigeria.
“We did everything we could to keep him.”
Reflecting on the match, Ilechukwu expressed both satisfaction and frustration.
“I think we did very well in the first half. We planned very well but threw away lots of chances, and when you play and don't score goals, you're going to be under pressure.
“We planned to win this game and win well so that the next game would be very, very easy for us, but the game did not go that way,” he lamented.
The second leg of the CAF Champions League tie is scheduled to be played at the same stadium on Friday, 23 August 2024.
