Rangers International head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu is enthusiastic about his team’s upcoming CAF Champions League Preliminary Round ties against Comoros’ U.S Zilimadjou, which will be held twice at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The Comoros champions have chosen Uyo as their home ground after CAF deemed their stadium in Moroni unfit for international matches.
Ilechukwu, however, stressed that his team will not be swayed by the fact that both legs will be played in Nigeria. He emphasized that Rangers will be fully prepared for the challenge despite the technical advantage of playing both matches on home soil.
Additionally, Rangers will not have the opportunity to host the return leg at their own Enugu-based Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
“To me playing both legs in Nigeria is an advantage for us. It is going to reduce stress and it will make us to get settled as soon as possible. Uyo is not our natural home but everywhere is home for us. As a coach of the team we believe that we can play at anywhere and any place at any time and also get result. We have prepared very well for the games knowing that it is a very important game for us. We are ready,” Ilechukwu told the club’s media. “We have started the team preparations. We want to make sure the players understand the team philosophy and methodology and get it right within a short frame of time.”
He added:“We are working tirelessly to make sure we get it right this time around. We are getting better in the past two weeks.
“We have lost some very important players in the team and we want to rebuild again. I know it is not going to be easy because it is hard to get the players with such fantastic understanding within a short period of time like the ones that departed.”
U.S Zilimadjou of Comoros will host Rangers first on Sunday in Uyo before the second leg tie a week later at the same venue.