Confed Cup: Rangers struggle without Mba

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Monday, May 20th, 2013

Rangers defender Ugonna Uzochukwu scored the match winner three minutes from full time to give the Nigerian representatives 1-0 win over CS Sfaxien in the CAF Confederations Cup played inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. Uzochukwu got the red card minutes later after he picked up his second booking of the day but it underlined a hectic day for Rangers as the North Africa tried hard to earn a point from Nigeria.

On Sunday, Rangers were without internationals Sunday Mba and Chigozie, who are away with the Super Eagles in Germany, while first-choice goalkeeper Godwin Ayalogu was not fit enough and so Nigeria U-20 goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel started this encounter. Given the level of their opponents, Rangers said they had pleaded with the Nigeria Football Federation to delay the call-up of the two internationals until after the continental match.

Rangers general manager Ozor Chibuzor told SuperSport just before the match, “We wrote to the NFF that they should release Mba and Agbim. But they did not answer us. We called (Stephen) Keshi and he said he needed the players and that he would not release them.

“The Mexican friendly will come up on May 31st. The Super Eagles travelled last Thursday and what we are saying is that the two players should have been allowed to play the game on Sunday against CS Sfaxien and then join them in Germany.

“We even volunteered to pay for their tickets to Germany if they are allowed to return to Enugu to play for us. I did not talk about Emeka Eze because he is suspended for this game, although he also travelled with them.

“We need all our players and this is the last game before the group stage of the Confederation Cup.”

On Sunday, Sfaxien attacked from the onset and it needed goalkeeper Daniel to scramble into a corner a goal-bound shot by the Tunisians after just eight minutes. Razaq Adegbite replaced injured striker Sanusi Sani after 28 minutes as Rangers fought in search of a goal.

On the hour, Nigeria U-20 striker Alhaji Gero had a chance to put the home in front but he missed a great opening off a corner.

But just when it looked like Rangers would be cancelled out by Sfaxien, Uzochukwu produced the winner late on, but he was booked for celebrating by pulling off his shirt.

The second leg will played in Tunisian in a fortnight and now looks quite an uphill task for the Nigerians.

-Punchwp_posts