CAF CC: Ogunbote Optimistic of Rangers Progression Despite Etoile Defeat (AUDIO)

Rangers coach Gbenga Ogunbote remains optimistic the ‘Flying Antelopes’ will advance to the quarter-finals of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup despite a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Tunisian giants, Etoile du Sahel on Sunday.

The Aiteo Cup holders, who went on a run of 8 matches without defeat in the competition this season, lost back-to-back games to same opponents, thereby dropping to 3rdplace in Group B with 4 points in as many games.

Despite trailing second-placed CS Sfaxien by two points, the former Enyimba coach informed he will go back to the ‘drawing board’ to correct the mistakes from the last game with a view of qualifying to the knockout stages of the competition.

“There are two strong teams (Salitas and CS Sfaxien) that we are still going to play,” Ogunbote said. “But you cannot say what will happen. All we need to do is to get to work.

“If we can lose at home, there’s nothing wrong if we work very well to go and get a victory outside (away).  A win outside will just turn everything again.

“So, we are not throwing in the towel, rather, what we need to do is get back to the drawing board, make corrections on areas that we erred today (Sunday) and see if the chance comes away when we go to play Salitas, and get it right.”

Rangers will next face Burkina Faso Cup champions, Salitas on Sunday, 10 March in Ouagadougou before wrapping up the group stage with a home tie against CS Sfaxien a week later in Enugu.