Enugu Rangers campaign at the 15th edition of the CAF Confederation Cup hit the rocks after their away and home defeats to Etoile du Sahel as they got eliminated from the competition in the group stages.
The Flying Antelopes were top of the log in Group B until their meeting with the Tunisian side and a rather disappointed Coach Ogunbote clearly pointed out his team fizzled out when it mattered most.
“The truth of the matter is that when it mattered most, we fizzled out but most of my players were tired,” he mourned.
Aside fatigue, Ogunbote stated a lack of time during the club’s preseason programme and the inability of new players to fully embrace his coaching style affected the team’s performance.
“We had issues with our preseason programmes because we didn’t really have time and the new ones are yet to understand my philosophy. They’re getting into it.”
Though blunt about their exit from the continent, the former Enyimba gaffer is optimistic they will return to the continent soon enough to atone for their unfortunate exit in March.
“You’ll realize that we lost out of the continent at home but we’ve taken the positives. By the time we get back, we’ll get better.”
The 2018 Aiteo Cup defending champions will have to lift the NPFL title or emerge consecutive champions of the Aiteo Cup if they must return to Africa as Nigeria’s representative.
Rangers sit third in Group A of the abridged NPFL table, six points behind leaders MFM FC and have five (5) outstanding matches to consolidate on.
The Flying Antelopes face rock bottom Niger Tornadoes in a matchday 13 fixture at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna on Sunday.
