Rangers
Ajax Victory Over Rangers Bittersweet –Bassey
In an interview with Dutch publication Het Parool, Nigerian international Calvin Bassey describes Ajax Amsterdam’s victory over Glasgow Rangers on matchday one of the UEFA Champions League as “bitter-sweet.”
Bassey made his Champs League debut last week, and the Dutch champions easily trounced his former teammates 4-0.
The adaptable defender displayed fantastic play throughout the game and finished off an outstanding Champions League debut by setting up the third goal.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s fixture against Liverpool at Anfield, the former Rangers player admitted it was difficult putting his friends to the sword.
Champions League Attracted Me To Ajax-Bassey
“I consider the Rangers FC players to be my friends,” Bassey told Het Parool, via Ajax Fanatics.
“I played with them for two years, shared joys and sorrows. And it is not easy to hurt friends so much. But for me personally, and my family, it was a beautiful evening.”
The 22-year-old defender became Nigeria’s most expensive defender in history when he joined Ajax for £19m following an impressive 2021/22 season with the Scottish giants.
During his two-year spell with Rangers, with whom he won the Scottish Premiership in 2020-2021, the Scottish Cup the following season and reached the final of the Europa League, Bassey made an astonishing 65 appearances.
It was his display with Rangers last season that earned him a move to Ajax.
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Aiteo Cup: Enyimba And Rangers Crash, Causing Numerous Upsets
Enugu Rangers, Enyimba, Kwara United, and Remo Stars are the four Nigeria Professional Football League teams knocked out of the Aiteo Cup in the round of 32 by lesser-known clubs, according to ANAEDOONLINE.NG Sports Extra.
Four-time champions Enyimba were defeated 6-5 on penalties by Niger Tornadoes after regulation time ended goalless in Ijebu Ode.
Tornadoes advanced to the round of 16 despite Ekene Awazie’s miss in sudden death, defeating the two-time African champions, who finished seventh in the NPFL last season.
At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, 2018 NPFL champions Enugu Rangers suffered same fate in the Oriental Derby as they lost 8-7 to Heartland on penalties after full time stood at 1-1.
Nonso Nzediegwu’s late equaliser helped Heartland, just relegated from the NPFL, cancel out Ossy Martins’ opener for Rangers.
The Naze Millionaires eventually prevailed in the marathon shoot-out to nick a spot in the next round.
In Abuja, Kwara United’s dream of qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup went up in smoke as they also lost 4-3 on penalties to Wikki Tourist after a hard-fought 90 minutes finished 1-1.
Kwara’s Alao Dabani’s early strike was canceled by Victor Dawa before the Afonja Warriors lost the ensuing shootout.
2018 Aiteo Cup: Remarkable Comeback From Rangers
In Enugu, a hat-trick by winger Samuel Amadi gave 2017 champions Akwa United a comfortable 3-0 win over Remo Stars at the UNEC Stadium.
Sunshine Stars also hammered Rovers of Calabar 5-1 at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
Chigozie Chilekwu scored a brace, while further goals from Ikenna Cooper, Chinedu Ozor and Samson Olasupo completed the rout.
In other results, 2019 champions Kano Pillars annihilated Nigeria National League side Zamfara United 5-0 to advance to the last 16 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Nasarawa United beat Sokoto United 11-10 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1.
Meanwhile, newly promoted NPFL side Doma United lost 3-0 to Lobi Stars in Jos, while Bendel Insurance also needed penalties to beat Ottasolo FC in Ilorin. They won 4-3 on penalties after the game ended 1-1.
In Enugu, defending champions Bayelsa United were knocked out by second division side Green Berets on penalties at the UNEC stadium, as the round of 32 games were concluded on Wednesday.
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Super Eagles Defender ‘Leon Balogun’ Suffers Head Injury
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Rangers of Scotland defender Leon Balogun will miss the Premiership fixture with Motherwell on Saturday after suffering a serious head knock against St Mirren, BSNSports.com.ng reports.
The stopper received treatment on the park before being replaced during the closing stages of the Betfred Cup defeat on Wednesday night.
Manager of the team Steven Gerrard confirmed his absence during a press conference organised ahead of the match.
“Balogun is unavailable for tomorrow as we are following medical protocol after a head injury”, he said.
Rangers are following medical protocols regarding head injuries and Balogun will not feature at Ibrox after being caught in a challenge by Buddies forward Jon Obika.
Gerrard will hope to have him back for congested festive schedule.
Super Eagles Star ‘Aribo’ Tipped For Player Of The Year Award
SKY SPORTS pundit Kris Boyd has been raving about Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, claiming that his early-season form has already made him a contender for the player of the year award at Ibrox.
Aribo, 24, played a starring role for the Gers on Sunday as they beat Aberdeen 4-0 at Ibrox to move 11 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
The former Charlton midfielder has been outstanding this season, despite missing 10 matches with an ankle injury between August and October.
Ex-Rangers striker Boyd claimed Aribo has already made himself a contender to win the player of the season award thanks to his brilliant form.
“He’s a magnificent player, he’s another option for Steven Gerrard in that position,” said Boyd on Sky Sports “In the first few weeks of the season we were talking about somebody who already could have been the player of the year – he was that good.
Read Also: Sports: Nwosu Tips Aribo To Replace Mikel
“Then, obviously, he missed out through injury and it took him a little while to get back but you saw in the last game here against Hamilton, the quality he has to get forward and score goals.”
Enugu Rangers Seals Branding Deal With D&M
Authorities of Rangers International FC of Enugu on Tuesday sealed a five-year Multimillion naira deal with branding, development and management company, Desgraf & Mart Limited. (D&M).
According to the deal, D&M is granted an exclusive right to use the Licence Marks in the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of Rangers Jersey and other related items made in Italy for the club.
Signing the renewable contract at the club’s headquarters in Enugu, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Flying Antelopes, Prince Davidson Owumi, said that the essence of the deal was to bring the Rangers’ spirit close to every household in the country and beyond.
He added that the process was also to rekindle “The Never Say Die” spirit of Rangers, stressing that the spirit that brought Rangers into existence was the brilliant spirit of excellence and resilience that united the Igbo after the civil war.
The Rangers boss, explained that the Enugu club side, established in 1970, equally came into existence as a tool, a momentum, a spirit and a movement that reintegrated the people of the South East with the rest of Nigeria, pointing out that it was “the spirit of you never give up” that saw “the resurgence of what we are doing here today.”
He thanked the people of the state, Rangers fans, supporters, the sporting press and all those who contributed towards the realization of the dream.
In his remarks on behalf of the state government, Barr. Chukwudi Amah of the Legal Unit, Governor’s Office, explained that the exercise was basically a licensing and merchandising deal.
READ ALSO: Champions League: Willian Sends Important Message To Chelsea Coach
He stressed that by the contract, Rangers Management Corporation has given “Desgraf & Mart Limited, an agent of Lotto Sports Italia in Nigeria, the sole license to use all marks, trade names and designs associated with Rangers in the production and distribution and sale of Rangers’ jersey”.
“Desgraf and Mart Limited will kit Rangers team with Lotto branded wears, jersey, boots, football and all that the keepers, players and coaching crew will need for the national and continental matches” he said.
In his speech, Chairman of D&M, Ositadimma Agu, explained that Rangers Football Club is the only team that Lotto Sports Italia is engaging officially, adding that it goes a long way to underscore the club’s importance in the country and beyond.
Agu, who praised Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s commitment to sports, maintained that “there is no single person in this part of the country that doesn’t have the spiritual or psychological connection with Rangers”, saying.
“It goes beyond football, as we tell you that Rangers is more than a football club, but a movement. It embodies every single thing about never says die no matter what happens” he said.
Seakibg further, he said ‘we are going to use our branding experience to push it (Rangers) to every corner of the world; this is a promise and we are going to do it.
By Ukachukwu Chisom
Enugu Rangers to take on Kano pillars this Wednesday, 24 October 2018, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Challenging each other for the Nigeria’s club cup title and the winners representing the country in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup.
AnaedoOnline centring at the coaches, indites why the two team’s coach would want to lift the title.
Rangers coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, has been around for a while without a major title.
Was a Former Sunshine manager, took the team to CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) and CAF Champions League (CAFCL) semifinal stages, was close at winning the league title before they were beaten out.
Hopefully the Aiteo Cup would be the first title he’ll be lifting.
Coach Ogunbote is so optimistic and with so much support from the club’s state government.
NPFL: Lobi Stars Reclaim Top Spot
Pillars coach, Ibrahim Musa, who has been the assistant coach, recently promoted to be the first team coach and now in the Aiteo Cup final in his first season.
With the recent crew and players reshuffle in the club by the Management board, the Pillars coach would want to bring home the Aiteo glory and affirm to the Club Chairmans speech that reclaiming the club’s position as Nigerian Champions at the end of next season is very possible.
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