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On the other side, El-Kanemi are making an immediate return to the top flight after spending a season in the Nigeria National League. They, however, return as the cup holders after a memorable victory over Abia Warriors in June.

Both sides have been involved on the continent before the start of the NPFL season, and the shadows of their tepid displays are still hanging over them.

Despite having the odds favouring them, the Flying Antelopes have started the season in their first competitive outing on a lukewarm note. Over two legs in the playoff of the CAF Champions League against Comoros Island’s US Zilimadjou, Rangers struggled to edge them 2-1 on aggregate, and they will next face Angolan club Sagrade Espranca in the final round of the preliminary stage.

Rangers coach Ilechukwu is aware of their enormous task in the new season and is upbeat they will be able to weather the storm.

“We will be competing on three fronts, so what I will say is that we will do well. We have to start building a team that will stand the test of travel because if we have players travelling for continental games, fatigue is likely to set in. So, we don’t want to have issues that will cause the team to go down in the league because we are playing continental,” Ilechukwu told PUNCH Sports Extra.

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