Rangers Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has expressed his delight following the Coal City Flying Antelopes’ 2-1 victory over his “friend” Daniel Ogunmodede’s Remo Stars on NPFL Matchday 24, Completesports.com reports.
Isaac Saviour and Kingsley Maduforo handed Rangers a comfortable 2-0 lead, scoring in each half of the thrilling encounter, before Sikiru Alimi pulled one back for Ogunmodede’s side.
NPFL leaders Remo Stars dominated possession for large periods of the contest, but Ogunmodede may feel aggrieved that his team failed to convert their superiority into a positive result.
Also Read: NPFL: Ogunmodede Blames Back Luck For Remo Stars’ 2-1 Defeat To Rangers
Instead, it was Rangers who capitalised on their chances, ending Remo Stars’ eight-game unbeaten run while also narrowing the gap at the top of the NPFL table.
Ilechukwu was particularly pleased with the victory, given the injury crisis that has plagued the defending NPFL champions.
“I know the team’s form has dropped,” Ilechukwu said during the post-match press conference.
“There’s an injury crisis in the squad. If you look at the team, we have some key players missing. Kenechukwu Agu (Okolo) is injured, Ugochukwu Ejike is injured, and Kazeem Ogunleye is also unavailable. These are first-team starters.
“So, we had to make do with what we have and work hard to secure the three points against Remo Stars. I knew today’s game would be very tough. They are the league leaders and the best team in Nigeria at the moment.
“They were unbeaten in eight straight matches. So, defeating ‘my friend,’ who is also an assistant coach of the Super Eagles, is something to be happy about.
“Remo Stars prepared very well—perhaps better than us. I knew that, but the ‘Cathedral’ is always the ‘Cathedral’ on a day like this.”
Despite Remo Stars’ dominance in possession, Ilechukwu revealed that he instructed his players to adopt a different tactical approach to counter Ogunmodede’s aggressive playing style.
Ikechukwu added: “Ogunmodede and I know each other well. I told my players how important this game was. Remo Stars had 48 points before this match, while we had 35.
“I explained to them that winning would prove something to ourselves, not to anyone else. It was a psychological talk, and the boys understood the message clearly. They responded positively, which is why we won.
“The three points matter the most. No matter how well you play, if you don’t get the points, it counts for nothing. Remo Stars were better than Rangers today in terms of technicality, tactics, and attacking play.
“But defensively, we were superior, which is why I decided to employ a counter-attacking strategy that ultimately earned us the victory.”
Ilechukwu, who also serves as an assistant coach for the Super Eagles, addressed concerns about his January transfer window signings, who are yet to feature for Rangers five matches into the second half of the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
“In football, there is a process, and Rangers have a system. We still have those players, but we want them to go through the ‘Rangers process’—to understand the team’s method and style before gradually integrating them into the squad.”
By Sab Osuji
