NPFL: Ilechukwu Urges Rangers Fans Ahead of Katsina, Abia Clashes

Rangers International head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has urged the club’s passionate supporters to remain patient, assuring them that the Coal City Flying Antelopes will bounce back to reclaim their pride of place in Nigerian football.

Nicknamed The Working One”, Ilechukwu guided Rangers to the NPFL title in the 2023/24 season. However, after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign and a shaky start to the ongoing season, frustration has begun to grow among the club’s fans.

Currently sitting 17th on the table with five points from five games — though with a game in hand — Rangers are under pressure to climb up the standings.

Obaje’s Brace Offers Hope

Rangers showed fighting spirit in Bauchi last time out, twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against newly promoted Wikki Tourists. Veteran forward Godwin Obaje grabbed both goals in the 30th and 76th minutes to cancel out Wikki’s strikes.

“For a fact, we are so happy about the result. We’ve worked so hard for about two weeks now because of the outstanding game we had,” Ilechukwu reflected.“Today’s match shows that the team has indeed worked hard. The boys fought hard to get this point.”

He also reserved praise for Obaje:“Obaje is a top player. He knows what to do at any given time. I’m not surprised at what he has done today. We are looking forward to seeing a better Obaje in future games.”

Determined To Rise

Admitting that Rangers are underperforming, Ilechukwu insists the team’s quality will soon shine through.
“Where we are in the table isn’t where we are supposed to be because Rangers is a big team and we have top players. We have to take our games one after the other because they’re very important to us.”

With home advantage and renewed confidence, the Flying Antelopes now set their sights on securing maximum points in back-to-back fixtures to kickstart their NPFL resurgence.

Editorial

Rangers International’s slow start to the 2025/26 NPFL season has raised understandable concerns among their fans. Sitting 17th on the log after five games is hardly the pedigree of an eight-time league champion. Yet, history teaches us that early struggles do not always define a campaign especially when the coach at the helm is Fidelis Ilechukwu, the man who guided this very team to glory just two seasons ago.

Ilechukwu’s plea for patience is not an empty call; it is backed by genuine signs of resilience. The recent comeback in Bauchi against Wikki Tourists, driven by Godwin Obaje’s experience and determination, shows that Rangers still possess the fighting spirit to turn things around.

The Coal City Flying Antelopes face a defining moment with back-to-back home fixtures against Katsina United and Abia Warriors. These matches could either cement their woes or mark the beginning of a long-awaited revival. What is certain, however, is that the unwavering support of the fans will be as crucial as the tactical plans on the pitch.

Rangers are too big a club to stay down for long. But they need belief, unity, and patience — from players, management, and most importantly, the fans. If the supporters answer Ilechukwu’s rallying cry, the Flying Antelopes may yet soar again.

Did You Know?

1. Title-Winning Coach – Fidelis Ilechukwu, nicknamed “The Working One”, led Rangers to their 8th NPFL crown in the 2023/24 season.
2. Poor Start – Rangers currently sit 17th in the NPFL standings with just five points from five matches, though they have a game in hand.
3. Oriental Derby Ahead – The Flying Antelopes’ next two matches are crucial home ties — against Katsina United and then fierce rivals Abia Warriors.
4. Obaje the Hero – Veteran striker Godwin Obaje scored a brace in Bauchi, rescuing a 2-2 draw against Wikki Tourists.
5. First Away Point – That hard-fought draw against Wikki Tourists earned Rangers their first away point of the season, a potential turning point in their campaign.