By Our Correspondent

The ‘Nest of Champions’, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, will be the venue for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025, first leg, second preliminary round as Nigeria League champions, Rangers International F.C lay ambush for the visiting Angola Girabola runner-up, G.D Sagrada Esperanca with a group stage ticket at stake.

Having overcame Comoros Islands champions, U.S Zilimadjou 2-1 on aggregate in the first preliminary round, the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored side has its work cut out as the third best side in Angolan club football come to town with a somewhat intimidating record that saw it overcome its first-round opponent from Seychelles, 4-0 on aggregate.

Going into this fixture, the players of Rangers have been well motivated to bring out their best as stated by midfield maestro, Saviour Isaac who said, “We have been well motivated for the task at hand and we have been undergoing series of drills from the coaches and I am optimistic that we are at the level needed to get the required result that will make the return fixture a mere formality.”

Attacking sensation, Okafor Onyekachi, who has upped his game since the last round fixtures is cool, calm and collected as he reacted thus to the fixture, “We are fully prepared. We know the task at hand as we understand its not going to be an easy match. We are prepared physically, mentally and otherwise to win massively and make the second leg a mere formality. Simply put, we are motivated to get a good result on Friday against the Angolans.”

Rangers technical adviser, Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, who was welcomed back from his national assignment with the senior male national football team, Super Eagles, in two AFCON 2025 qualifiers, on Wednesday and the environment got lit up as he and his lieutenants went to task to drill the boys on what is needed to get a good result against the Roque Sapiri managed side, stressing, “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.”

Fans that are expected to come out in their numbers are assured of a thrilling encounter especially in the middle of the pack where action will see the duo of Isaac Saviour of Rangers and Felisberto Sebastiao of Sagrada try to outdo themselves to create or even be amongst the goals just as Okafor Onyekachi is expected to lead the charge for goals for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ with Domingos Kandumba pulling the strings for the Angolan vice-champions.