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Six time Nigerian cup champions and reigning Aiteo cup champions, Rangers International F.C will this weekend trade tackles with Algerian cup champions, Union Sportive Madina Bel Abbes (USMBA) in the first leg, first round of Total Confederation cup 2018/2019 match slated for the 45.000 capacity Stade 24 Fevrier 1956 with a resolve to leave the North African coastal city unscratched come December 15, 2018.
After a comprehensive demolition job of Ethiopian champions, Defence Force S.C, 5-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ are full of confidence going into this round of the second tier CAF club competition.
AITEO Cup Champions, Rangers International Present Cup to Mbaka
Rangers leading scorer in the competition, Godwin Aguda, in a chat after scaling the Defence huddle, said, “With God everything is possible. Also, with the right attitude, I am very optimistic of us getting a favorable result in Algeria. Yes, we may know very little of our opponent but we are not disturbed as we hope to play our game and get our strides right. Let our fans continue to pray and support us as we promise not to disappoint.”
Gaffer of the Coal city side, coach Olugbenga Ogunbote while fielding questions from the media, said, “We are glad that we are safely through the preliminary round and heading into the first round with a date against an Algerian side which I believe that we can safely negotiate through. We shall give the match all the attention it deserves both home and away. Like I have said earlier, we are taking each game as it comes but we have our sights fixed at trophy. There is no better way to show appreciation to our teaming supporters especially the governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for all he has done and still doing for us.”
CONTINENTAL COMPETITION: OGUNBOTE CALL FOR MAXIMUM SUPPORT
The Algerian side which overcame Liberian side at the preliminary stage 4-1 on aggregate are currently 14th on the sixteen team log of the Algerian top flight after fifteen round of matches with fifteen points to show for their efforts winning three, drawing six and losing six, scoring twelve goals and conceding twenty-one goals will be banking on the troika of Abdelkarim Zouari, Mourad Benayad and Hamza Belahouel to cause the visiting Nigerian champions some troubles at the back while relying on the reflexes of Nadjib Ghoul to stop the attacking threats from Rangers.
USMBA’ form of late in both domestic and continental competitions has seen them win three, draw two and earned two losses.
CONTINENTAL COMPETITION: OGUNBOTE CALL FOR MAXIMUM SUPPORT
Rangers will be banking on the trio of Ugonna Uzochukwu, Chiamaka Madu and Ajani Ibrahim to cause the host some troubles while providing enough shields for the backline anchored by the duo of Semiu Liadi and Adubi Akpos.
Ghanaian shot stopper, Nana Bonsu, said ahead of the debacle, “Yes, it will be a tough encounter but I believe that we shall come out with a good result. The Algerians, from what we have heard, are good at home but we are very enterprising away from home and I believe it will be on display again in this match.”
Ahead of the encounter that was shifted by some hours dew to the death of the brother of USMBA’ club president, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ dispatched enterprising Enugu armature side, Flying Angels Football Academy 3-0 in a practice match, Tuesday evening inside Nnamdi Azikiwe, Enugu.
NORBERT OKOLIE
