Experienced midfielder Ikechukwu Ibenegbu says Rangers are in Libreville for serious football match against hosts, Pelicans, in Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup First Round first leg match, Completesports.com reports.
Ibenegbu, aka Mosquito, who has featured in all CAF inter club competitions, says the Flying Antelopes are out to get a decent result in Libreville, Gabon, so as to cushion the return leg pressure in Enugu.
“We are not going to Libreville to watch the beauty of the city,” Ibenegbu who has also featured for the Super Eagles and Beach Eagles said.
“We are going to Libreville on a serious football business against Pelicans.
“This is a CAF Confederation Cup competition and we want to get the best of result we can in the first leg so that the return leg match in Enugu will be less difficult.”
Ibenegbu has huge experience to galvanise Rangers midfield this term having previously featured for Heartland, Warrior Wolves and Enyimba.
He is one of the major arrivals at Rangers in the sumer whom manager Benedict Ugwu wants to use to bolster the squad.
And the Microbiology graduate admits he has a responsibility to bring new tidings to Rangers continental silverware pursuit.
“As a new player in Rangers, I hope to bring my experience of playing on the continent for over a decade to bear, if selected by the coach, to help us achieve our set target for the season.
“Rangers is a very big club in the continent and my joining them is to contribute my little quota towards making it a continental champion again after over four decades”.
Though the NPFL new season is yet to get underway, Rangers go into Saturday’s game a well prepared side.
In 12 preseason games, the Flying Antelopes won 11 and lost one (2-1 to Delta Force) and enjoyed a full week uninterrupted concentration camping at Neros Stadium, Nanka, Anambra State.
Head coach Ugwu equally shares his player, Ibenegbu’s optimism.
“I have a strong belief that with the talents at our disposal and the training regime we have gone through in the preseason, we shall come back with a good result by God’s grace,” he said
“We don’t know much about our opponents, but our philosophy has always been to play against any opponent.
“Surely, it won’t be an easy match as there are no more ‘small’ teams in the game. They [Pelicans] did well in the Preliminary Round, but I believe that we have all it takes to stop them in this round.”
By Sab Osuji
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