Rangers’ head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu referred to the forthcoming CAF Champions League second-leg matchup against Sagrada Esperanca of Angola as a “cup final.”

Nigeria, the defending league winners, lead the CAF winners League preliminary round with a 1-0 lead going into the pivotal second-leg match.

The game is planned to take place on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 15:30 Angolan time, at the 48,500-capacity Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Angola.

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Prior to the match, Ilechukwu stressed the importance of the match by saying:

“We are going to Luanda to play this encounter as a cup final.

“Our opponents are very technical and have fast players but we have done our duties on how to contain them and push our way into the group stage of the competition.

“It will be a difficult match but I am optimistic of a positive result.”

Chinemerem Ugwueze, the squad captain, reaffirmed his coach’s assurance by saying:

“We are very focused and have put in a lot in preparing for the second leg encounter against Sagrada Esperanca.

“I think that with the intensive training we have done since the end of the first leg, we are good to go and defend the badge of the club.

Sure, its going to be a high-pressure game but we have our work cut out and we are optimistic.”

The delegation, led by the club’s General Manager/CEO, Amobi Ezeaku, departed Enugu on Wednesday.

They will spend the night in Lagos before flying to Luanda on Thursday to finalize preparations for the match.

Rangers are just one step away from reaching the group stages of Africa’s premier club competition, and they are determined to make it count.