Rangers International head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has admitted that his team felt the absence of striker Godwin Obaje during their goalless draw with Kwara United in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The encounter, which took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, saw the home side struggle to convert several goal-scoring opportunities.

Obaje, one of Rangers’ key forwards, was unavailable due to injury, and Ilechukwu revealed that his absence had a noticeable impact on the team’s attacking play. “We tried having Obaje ready for the game, but he couldn’t because of the injury,” the coach said after the match. “Obaje has shown that he is a great player for the team, especially now that we are struggling to score goals.”

The tactician lamented his team’s inability to take their chances, noting that they could have climbed higher on the NPFL standings with a victory. “I feel the pain from the outcome of the game because a win could have taken us to a safe spot on the league table,” he said. “We created good chances but failed to finish them.”

Despite the setback, Ilechukwu expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to bounce back. He urged other attackers to step up in Obaje’s absence, reminding them that goal scoring remains a shared responsibility. “I expect other players to shoulder the responsibility because I always train them all on goal scoring,” he added.

The coach promised to make improvements ahead of future matches, stressing that the team would continue to work on its weaknesses. “We will continue to work hard and improve on our lapses in the future,” Ilechukwu assured, as Rangers look ahead to their next NPFL fixture.