Rangers seek royal blessing ahead of CAF Champions League battle

Ahead of Sunday’s CAF Champions League preliminary-round clash against AS Sobemap, Rangers International GM/CEO Barrister Amobi Ezeaku paid a courtesy visit to the Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III. The visit comes at an important moment for the Flying Antelopes as they prepare to begin their continental campaign away from their traditional home in Enugu.

For Rangers, the visit carries significance beyond the ceremonial aspect. Playing their Champions League home fixture in Abeokuta means the club is stepping into a new environment, and engaging with the traditional institution of Egbaland can help create a stronger bond between the club and the community that will host them. It also provides an opportunity to generate goodwill and encourage local support for the Nigerian champions.

On the pitch, Rangers will be looking to turn that goodwill into motivation when they face AS Sobemap on Sunday at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena. The Flying Antelopes are coming into the encounter with the responsibility of representing Nigeria in Africa, while also defending the the NPFL title they won last season. Ezeaku has already stressed the need for the team to maintain a strong mentality and fight until the final whistle.

The first leg is particularly important because Rangers will want to establish an advantage before travelling to Benin Republic for the return fixture. A strong defensive performance, better efficiency in front of goal and control of the game will be crucial. Having opened their league campaign with a dramatic result against Katsina United, Rangers now need to quickly switch their attention to the different demands of continental football.