Mbah Charges Rangers to Bring Home Continental Trophy

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has urged Rangers International Football Club to aim beyond domestic success and bring home a continental trophy, after rewarding the team with N150 million and plots of land for clinching the 2025/2026 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title.

At a dinner reception held Tuesday night at Government House, Enugu, Mbah celebrated the players, technical crew, and management for their record-equaling ninth league triumph, secured with a 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City Boys in Lagos on May 24.

The governor likened the reception to welcoming home a child who had excelled academically, emphasizing that the government and people of Enugu State were proud of the team’s achievement. He announced N100 million for the players and N50 million for the technical and management crew, alongside plots of land for every player and additional allocations for senior officials.

Mbah described Rangers as more than a football club, calling it a symbol of resilience, unity, hope, and renewal born in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. He praised the team’s discipline and sacrifices, commending General Manager Amobi Ezeaku for his leadership and resilience.

The governor assured continued government support, highlighting sports as a key pillar of his administration’s development agenda.

He promised that renovation works at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium (The Cathedral) would meet international standards ahead of Rangers’ continental matches, while also reaffirming Enugu’s readiness to host the 2026 National Sports Festival.

Urging the team to avoid complacency, Mbah challenged them to ‘brace up, fight on, keep winning and ensure you bring the continental trophy home.’

Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Lloyd Ekweremadu, lauded the governor’s sustained investment in sports, noting Enugu’s recent triumph at the National Para Games with 55 medals.

Responding, Rangers General Manager Amobi Ezeaku expressed gratitude to the governor, crediting the club’s resurgence to his commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.

He emphasized that Rangers’ success was built on discipline, preparation, and ambition, and declared the club’s ambition to compete among Africa’s elite.

‘Every great achievement begins as a dream. Today, we dream of Rangers defeating Africa’s biggest clubs and bringing the CAF Champions League trophy to Enugu,’ Ezeaku said.