Rangers Technical Advisor Fidelis Ilechukwu has stated that his club will treat the match against Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca as if it were a cup final.

With a group stage ticket up for grabs, the Nigeria League champions will lay in wait for visiting Angola Girabola runner-up, G.D Sagrada Esperanca, at the “Nest of Champions,” Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, for the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League 2024/2025.

Ilechukwu was greeted upon his return from his national assignment on Wednesday. He played two AFCON 2025 qualifiers with the senior male national football team, the Super Eagles.

Read Also:CAFCL: Egyptian side Pyramids arrive in Rwanda for APR FC clash

“We are fully prepared to give our best against a quality team from Angola with our focus on getting the win that will make our progress in the competition smooth. With all that has been happening since our league opener.

“I am optimistic going into this encounter.

“We shall approach the match like a cup final and trusting God for His favour.”

After defeating U.S. Zilimadjou, the champions of the Comoros Islands, 2-1 on aggregate in the first preliminary round, the Ilechukwu-coached team faces a difficult task when the third-place team in Angolan club football arrives with a somewhat frightening record, having defeated its Seychelles opponent 4-0 on aggregate in the first round.