Super Eagles defender Emmanuel Fernandez has offered a public apology to Rangers supporters after Sunday’s heavy loss to Celtic effectively put the Scottish Premiership title out of reach with just two games remaining.
Emmanuel Fernandez did not hide from the moment. After Rangers fell 3-1 to Celtic on Sunday, the Nigeria international stepped forward to say what many inside Ibrox were already feeling, that the squad had let the fans down at the worst possible time.
“First and foremost, I apologise to the fans. We know that we should have done better in the last three games. We feel sorry for the fans,” the 24-year-old centre-back told reporters after the match.
The defeat left Rangers with two games remaining against Hibernian and Falkirk, but with Celtic now firmly in control of the title race, the Ibrox side face the prospect of finishing a distant second in their most important domestic rivalry.
A Personal Reckoning From Fernandez
What made Fernandez’s words stand out was his refusal to shift blame. The defender, who joined Rangers from Peterborough United in July 2025, pointed the finger squarely at himself and acknowledged that the squad lacked the required fight at critical moments.
“I couldn’t pinpoint an issue, but I just feel like maybe we needed to have a bit more fight. I can’t say we have been unlucky. I can take stick for it because there are certain moments I probably should have defended better,” he added.
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Despite his self-critical tone, Fernandez was careful not to throw his teammates under the bus. “There is nothing I can say about my teammates. I will probably just look at myself, if anything,” he said.
Finishing Strong For The Fans
The defender refused to let the disappointment define the remaining weeks of the season. With two fixtures left on the schedule, Fernandez said the squad owed their supporters a strong close to the campaign.
“But now we have to pick ourselves up. There are two games to go, and we have to win these two games for the fans,” he said.
He also pointed to the young talent within the squad as a reason for optimism heading into next season. “I feel like there are still a lot of strong players here, young players, who are going to be in their second season. They can show they are really worth it and are going to fight. When next season comes, we’ll have a good side.”
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Fernandez’s Remarkable Season Despite Heartbreak
The title failure should not overshadow what has been a genuinely outstanding debut campaign for the Super Eagles defender. Fernandez made 29 appearances across all competitions for Rangers this season, scoring six goals from centre-back, a return that earned him the club’s Player of the Season award and a place in the PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year.
He was the only Rangers player included in the PFA selection, a mark of how far above expectations his debut season has reached. His progress at club level also earned him a maiden Super Eagles call-up in March 2026, and he celebrated his international debut with a goal in a 2-1 win over Iran on March 27.
Reports from Scotland indicate that Arsenal, West Ham, and Feyenoord have all taken notice of the 24-year-old’s rapid rise. His current market value sits at around nine million euros, but interest from top clubs could push that figure significantly higher by the summer transfer window.
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The Bigger Picture For Nigerian Football
Fernandez’s emergence has come at a welcome time for Nigeria. The Super Eagles have been searching for dependable options at centre-back for several years, and a player of his aerial presence, reading of the game, and goals-from-the-back ability fills a gap that has long been a concern for coaches.
His performance level at Rangers, even accounting for the title disappointment, represents one of the more encouraging Nigerian stories in European football this season. The apology to fans shows maturity beyond his years, and if Rangers keep him through the summer, the expectation will be that next season he helps them push Celtic all the way to the wire.
As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, Fernandez has consistently been one of the most talked-about Nigerian defenders in Europe throughout the 2025-26 campaign, and the conversation is only set to grow louder.
📌 Did You Know?
- Emmanuel Fernandez was born on November 20, 2001, in London, England, and was eligible to represent both England and Nigeria before committing to the Super Eagles.
- He joined Rangers from Peterborough United in July 2025, meaning his debut season at Ibrox was also his first-ever campaign in top-flight professional football.
- Fernandez scored on his Super Eagles debut against Iran on March 27, 2026, making him one of a rare group of Nigerian defenders to mark their international debut with a goal.
- He stands at 1.98 metres tall, making him one of the most physically imposing centre-backs currently operating in the Scottish Premiership.
- Rangers’ 3-1 defeat to Celtic on Sunday was the decisive blow in the title race, but Fernandez still scored six goals during the season, a remarkable return from a defensive position.
- Former Super Eagles and Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers, who briefly trained with Fernandez before leaving Ibrox for Panathinaikos, publicly praised the defender’s quality after their first session together.
- Fernandez’s contract at Rangers runs until June 2029, with an option for a further year, meaning the club hold firm control of his future despite growing transfer interest from the Premier League.
