Ilechukwu Reaffirms Commitment: “I’m Not Leaving Rangers”

Fidelis Ilechukwu, the technical adviser of Rangers International FC, has denied rumours that he plans to depart the club, affirming that he remains committed to the side.

Addressing the speculation at a press conference on Friday, Ilechukwu declared: “All those things are not true, it’s not possible, I have contract with Rangers.”

He emphasised the unity within the coaching staff, saying that his assistants are like family they “eat together, work together, and support each other”  and disputed suggestions of discord behind the scenes.

Ilechukwu, who also doubles as an assistant coach with the Super Eagles, pointed out that his absence due to those national duties doesn’t weaken the club’s structure: his assistants are capable of guiding the team to victories even when he’s away.

So, despite swirling rumours and media chatter, the Flying Antelopes’ dugout for now remains firmly under Ilechukwu’s watch.

Editorial

Let’s be blunt most coaches don’t face whispers of exit without cause. Yet here is Fidelis Ilechukwu  calm, composed, resolute. When swirling speculation threatened to unsettle his club, he responded not with clipped statements or silent defiance, but with a clear public affirmation: he is staying. And that matters.

In a league where turbulence is often disguised as ambition, his decision to remain despite national-team commitments and recriminations speaks of deeper conviction than results or headlines. Rangers in transition, with players coming and going, injuries, shifting squads: that’s reality. Yet leadership isn’t built on permanence, but on presence. And Ilechukwu knows that even when physically absent, his influence extends through his backroom.

Interest in his departure, if allowed to fester, could have destabilised more than just starting line-ups. It could have frayed confidence in a squad already bruised by underperformance and unmet expectations. Instead, his denial firm but measured draws a line speculation ends here unity begins now.

Critics may still doubt whether this stability will translate into silverware or league recovery. And they are not wrong football judges by results, not intentions. But for now what matters is character  and Ilechukwu’s character places him squarely where he belongs at the helm, under the floodlights, fighting the next season.

In a sport hungry for fleeting success, this kind of steadfastness feels almost rare. For the Flying Antelopes and their supporters, it may be the reassurance they needed most.

Did You Know?

1. Ilechukwu signed a new one-year contract with Rangers in May 2025, officially extending his stay beyond the previous season a fact that undercuts rumours of imminent departure.
2. The last campaign under his leadership saw Rangers finish trophyless, a disappointing end after their previous league triumph pushing Ilechukwu to plan a “squad overhaul” ahead of 2025/26.
3. Ilechukwu combines domestic duties with work for the national team: he is also an assistant coach to the Super Eagles while managing Rangers — a dual responsibility that few Nigerian coaches currently bear.
4. Over the 2024/25 season, injuries and a thin squad list forced Rangers to field a third midfield at one point — challenges Ilechukwu publicly cited as part of their struggles.
5. Despite a slow start to the 2025/26 season under Ilechukwu, the coach has urged fans and players alike to remain patient insisting the team is a “work in progress” and that improvement will come as new and young players are integrated.