ENUGU Rangers boss Abdu Maikaba concedes the Flying Antelopes are in a fight for survival this season and says their priority is securing their place in the top flight following their 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Dakkada on Monday in Uyo.
Seven-time Nigerian champions Rangers were expected to compete for the Nigeria Premier Football League title this season but having managed just three wins all season, find themselves preoccupied with staving off relegation.
The Enugu side have lost five times and the entire league with seven draws (tied with Group A leaders Bendel Insurance).
They are currently seventh in the 10-team Group B of the 2022/23 abridged NPFL season with 16 points, four more than second from bottom Dakkada who occupy one of the two relegation spots.
Defeat at Dakkada would have seen Rangers drawn further into relegation trouble and Makaiba admits the point in Uyo is a significant step in their bid to ensure their top-flight status this season.
“Actually, we came for the three points, but we are happy with the point,” the former Akwa United boss said post-match.
“This one point means a lot to Rangers because our opponents today are the ones we are contending with. So, holding them at home means we push them down and we move a little step up. So, I think it’s a good result for us.”
With no chance of qualifying for the season-ending Super Six tournament, Maikaba says the Flying Antelopes must focus on staying in the league and competing for the Federation Cup, a trophy he won in 2017 with Akwa United.
“I think we can say our aspiration, for now, is to remain in the premiership,” the former Plateau United manager said.
“This is the truth, and after the weekend game, we’ll shift our attention to the other competition, which is the AITEO Cup,” he added.
Eighteen-Eleven Media