CAF Champions League: Enugu Rangers Dare Zamalek In Cairo

By Augustine Akhilomen

Reigning Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Enugu Rangers will have a daunting task to overcome five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt in the first leg final round of the CAF Champions League at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday.

The Flying Antelopes reached this stage after overcoming Algeria’s JS Saoura on the away goal rule after drawing them 1-1 in Algiers before drawing 0-0 in Nigeria.

It’s worth mentioning that this is Enugu Rangers’ tenth Champions League appearances as their last one came in 2013, and they never won the trophy before despite reaching the final in 1975, when they lost the title to Guinea’s Hafia FC.

Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers midfielder, Aguda Godwin insisted that the team would upset their Egyptian counterpart in Cairo despite having won the competition five times.

“I do not believe Zamalek is too strong for us. We will go to Egypt looking to at least get a draw as that will give us something to build on ahead of the return leg in Enugu,” Godwin told KingFut.com.

“We believe in ourselves and know it is possible to avoid defeat in Egypt.”

The Nigerian Champions are currently 16th in the league with 12 points from 10 matches, and will hope to find their form against Zamalek next week.

In the same vein, Enugu Rangers’ Daniel Etor says that they will ensure to get a decent result in their 2017 CAF Champions League first round, first leg encounter against Zamalek SC.

“We are currently doing what we can to ensure that we get a decent result in Cairo this weekend,” Etor told Goal.

“We know it won’t be an easy match but we are banking on the fact that we want to make name for ourselves and with our determination, we are going to give a good account of ourselves and hopefully seal it up during the second leg.

“We know their fans will be behind them but we won’t be intimidated by their antics because we know the reason why we are going to Egypt and by God’s grace we shall come out victorious.”