NAN-S-10
Qualification
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 10, 2017 (NAN) Football enthusiasts on Monday expressed confidence in the ability of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Enugu Rangers, to still qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stages in spite of the first leg draw.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by Zambia’s Zesco United in the first leg clash of the Confederation Cup in Enugu on Sunday.
Some of the fans who spoke to NAN noted that the team’s priority must be to qualify for the group stages, adding that they must put the first leg result behind them.
Patrick Nwaogwu, the Vice-Chairman of FCT Football Association, said that even though Rangers threw away a precious two-goal lead in the first leg, they must now focus all their attention on the second leg.
“The most important thing in this task is to qualify for the group stage.
“Thank God the competition is on a home and away basis; that means regardless of what the scores are both in Enugu and away in Zambia, Rangers just have to qualify.
“The 2-2 draw recorded at home, though not too good, but it is not the end of their campaign.
“They could score as many goals here in Enugu and still not qualify, so their focus must be to make it through at the end whether by points or goal difference, it really doesn’t matter,’’ he said.
Coach Abdullahi Biffo of Abia Warriors said it would be very devastating for the champions if they failed to qualify for the group stages of the competition.
“Rangers are currently not doing very well in the league and so the Confederation Cup will be a compensation for the club and its fans if they can manage to pull through to the group stages.
“Having crashed out of the CAF Champions League first round, they are now also in danger of elimination from the Confederation Cup.
“We all know how important it is to win at home, especially in this competition.
“However, it is not over until it is over. So, I urge the team not to give up hope, but give the second leg their very best and see what comes out of it,’’ he said.
Coach Abubakar Bala, the Technical Adviser of Niger Tornadoes, lamented Rangers’ technical and tactical errors in the game, adding that only a high scoring draw or outright win would see them scale through.
“It was a bad day for Rangers. They took the match lightly.
“They relaxed based on the good results they had in the first half and paid dearly for it in the second half.
“Anyway, that is football for you. At times, you plan for something and get another thing on the pitch.
“It is not too bad if they can pick an away draw or an outright win in Zambia. But they must ensure that they take their scoring opportunities when they come.
“If they can score more than three goals, I think they just might qualify, even though their chances are slim,’’ he said.
However, Mansur Abdullahi, former Coach of Warri Wolves, said that the champions’ campaign in the Confederation Cup was as good as over.
“There is no need to deceive ourselves. Rangers have blown away a very crucial opportunity of qualifying for the group stage.
“We all thought they had learnt their lessons in the CAF Champions League but it is obvious that they did not.
“They allowed complacency to creep into their game after putting up one of their best performances of the tournament in the first half.
“Now, I am afraid to say this, but I think it is all over for the champions,’’ he said.
He advised the technical crew to focus all their energy on the NPFL so as to avoid relegation, adding that it would be a double tragedy for the champions.
“They must now channel their attention to the league to ensure that they don’t also lose out of their NPFL status at the end of the season,’’ he said.
NAN also reports that Rangers are currently in danger of relegation from the NPFL as they sit at the bottom of the 20-team table, having amassed only 13 points from 14 games played so far.
Rangers will travel for the second leg at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola next weekend, needing a win to qualify for the group stages of the competition. (NAN)
VO/PDE
======
(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)