Rangers International head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has voiced his disappointment with his team’s performance in their first game of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title defense, calling it “one of our worst games.”
The Nigerian champions started their title defense at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium with a 0-0 draw against President Federation Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors on Saturday.
Ilechukwu, the former Heartland and Plateau United coach, did not hold back in expressing his dissatisfaction with the result.
“Today is one of the worst games we have played in this stadium and I am very sad about it because we had our game plan and at times football is funny and things won’t go the way you expect it to go. I must say El-Kanemi Warriors are a good side because I know the team so well. Now we have to plan a way forward because the game has been played and it’s gone,” Ilechukwu said after the match.
However, he recognises that they need to sit back and review their performances ahead of subsequent matches, starting with an important two-legged affair against Angola’s Sagrada Esperança in the CAF Champions League second round playoff.
Ilechukwu is now concerned with their recent form in competitive games this season which has seen them win just once in three games and drawing two, considering the standard of their opponents.
He said: “It’s a general (team problem) thing. We have to sit down and analyse everything that happened today. (In this game) we did less than what people expected of us and even what we expected from ourselves. We won’t kill ourselves though it is a disappointing outcome but we must forge ahead.
“It is very concerning (ahead of our CAF Champions League match against Angola’s Sagrada).”
He added: “This same performance issue occurred in our last continental game. When things like this happen, we need to sit down, analyze our statistics, and collaborate to find a solution, especially with some time to prepare for the next game,” Ilechukwu said.
Rangers will face Sagrada Esperança in the CAF Champions League second round, first leg at home during the weekend of September 13-15, before traveling to Angola for the return leg the following weekend. Additionally, they have league fixtures against Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United on Matchdays 2 and 3 to prepare for.