Enugu Rangers coach, Ben Ugwu, has expressed frustration over the Flying Antelopes’ 2-1 defeat to ASC Kara of Togo at the Kegue Stadium, Lome, on Sunday, Completesports.com reports.
The 26-man Enugu Rangers contingent arrived Enugu from Lome Tuesday afternoon, with Ugwu ruing the outcome.
It was the first leg match Second Preliminary Round of the 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup. The winner, over two legs, will advance to the group stage of the competition.
Ugwu says the 2-1 score line is not a fair reflection of his team’s impact in the game, but admits frankly that it was a difficult match for both sides.
He reckons that Rangers players lost concentration at the very critical moment, hence the defeat.
“It was a very tough game for both sides. We did not deserve to lose the match, but a loss of
concentration in the concluding moments of the match by my defenders presented the Kara team with the opportunity to score the winning goal,” Ugwu, a former Rangers defender in his playing days lamented.
Looking ahead of this Sunday’s return leg match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, ‘Surugede’ (as Ugwu is fondly called) expresses optimism that his charges will overturn the defeat.
“No doubt, we have what it takes to get the result that will qualify us for the group stage in the return leg. I’m very positive about that,” he enthused.
Captain of the Nigerian side, Tope Olusesi, while admitting that the Togolese side played an attractive football says that the Coal City Flying Antelopes handles them with experience and top quality team performance.
“ASC Kara is a good side, they passed the ball well but we were able to contain them through most part of the match until that moment of loss of concentration that allowed them to get the win,” Olusesi stated.
“I believe that we can make it to the group stage after the second leg in Enugu. We can do it.”
By Sab Osuji
1 Comment
i did remember THE combination of SURUGEDE and B AKWUEGBU those days in Rangers. What a solid defence? hard to find such roch back these days