Rangers International coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has reassured fans that the Flying Antelopes are finding their rhythm and will soon turn the tide in the 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League season. He described the squad as a “work in progress” after a goalless home draw with newcomers Kun Khalifat FC at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on 24 August 2025, in front of a full crowd.
He acknowledged missed chances in the first half but remained optimistic about their potential, noting the squad’s near-total rebuild and expressing confidence that they could challenge at the top by season’s end.
The coach also praised Kun Khalifat’s cohesion, noting their unity stemmed from having played together since their days in the NNL. The team now focus on a road fixture against Warri Wolves in Ozoro on 31 August.
Editorial
There’s something promising taking shape in Enugu, albeit slowly. Ilechukwu’s frank comment on Rangers being a “work in progress” feels refreshingly honest. There’s no façade of confidence here just a realistic admission that rebuilding takes time.
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We sense a careful sculpting of a new identity at the club. When the coach speaks of a nearly new squad, the challenge is obvious. Yet, the belief that this group can be top contenders suggests a clear vision, grounded in potential rather than illusion.
We note the contrast between cohesion and novelty. Kun Khalifat’s seamless performance underlines how familiarity breeds fluid football. Rangers, by comparison, have yet to find that unity. But the solution isn’t overnight it’s consistent game time, alignment of tactics and shared intent.
We trust that this process, though unglamorous, is essential. Performance isn’t restored through rhetoric it grows from repetition, shared understanding and trust. The upcoming clash with Warri Wolves will tell us how far the team has progressed. We believe that patience, combined with belief, can yield the revival Rangers’ supporters so earnestly seek.
Did You Know?
1. The 2025–26 NPFL season officially began on 22 August 2025 and is scheduled to run until 24 May 2026.
2. Remo Stars, not Enugu Rangers, enter the current season as the defending champions, having won their first-ever NPFL title in the 2024–25 campaign.
3. Kun Khalifat FC earned promotion from the Nigeria National League, alongside Warri Wolves, Wikki Tourists and Barau, to form part of the 20-team lineup this season.
4. Enugu Rangers hold the distinction of being the only NPFL club never relegated since the league’s inception; they are one of Nigeria’s oldest and most decorated teams.
5. Prior to leading Rangers to the title in 2023–24, Fidelis Ilechukwu extended his contract in May 2025 to remain at the club until the end of this very 2025–26 season.
