By Nicholas Obisike

Rangers International FC of Enugu players have assured its supporters of a win against visiting FC Ifeanyiubah of Nnewi in the midweek match day four of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match will be played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The club’s Media Officer, Norbert Okolie, told sports journalists in Enugu on Tuesday that the players were ready and had promised their coach and supporters of a convincing win.

He said: “Striker Isreal Abia said that FC Ifeanyiubah will be turned back home empty handed on Wednesday.

”He has also said that players are ready for the visitors’ antics and we are not going to relent on our good run in the league.

“Abia further said that Coach Salisu Yusuf’s ideology of ‘never underrate any team’ “is what is giving the good results in the league.

“He also said the players were reminded about the club’s slogan of ‘never say die’.

“The only answer to the match against FC Ifeanyiubah is nothing beyond a win as we look forward to reach the top of the league.”

Also, Femi Ajayi, who scored the lone goal in Kaduna against Jigawa Golden Stars, said that Rangers will play the match like a final.

”With the team work among the players, I strongly believe that we can take on any team and challenge for the league shield perfectly.

”We are not underrating any team, talk more of a team like FC Ifeanyiubah, but we just pray for luck to be at our best and come out with the desired victory,” Ajayi said.

NAN reports that Rangers defeated FC Ifeanyiubah 3-1 in Enugu on Jan. 8, 2020 during the first leg of the 2019/2020 league match before the league was suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on Tuesday, whipped their Ghanaian counterparts 3-1 in the last group B match of the ongoing WAFU U-17 tournament in Togo, to pick a semifinal ticket.

The win also helped Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets pick the second ticket in the group and squeeze into the semi-finals of the competition.

The Golden Eaglets, who are five-time world champions in the age category, had started the competition on a poor note, losing 0-1 to the Baby Elephants.

They drew 1-1 with the Black Starlets of Ghana in the second match, thereby requiring the Ivorians to beat Ghana by more than one goal to qualify.

Cote d’Ivoire topped group B with 6 points, while Nigeria came a distant second with just one point, same as Ghana, but with a better goal difference.

Nigeria will now play Burkina Faso in the semi-finals, while the Ivorians will take on Niger Republic.

The two finalists automatically qualify for the 2021 CAF U-17 AFCON in Morocco. (NAN)

Lionel Messi has recovered from an ankle injury and ready to take on Huesca on Sunday.

Barcelona look to get their La Liga season back on track following last week’s surprise 1-1 draw at home to Eibar, coach Ronald Koeman has said.

Barca’s all-time top scorer watched on helplessly from the empty Camp Nou stands as his side struggled against the minnows but Koeman said his captain had been working overtime to return to fitness.

“Messi is in good shape, he trained on December 30 and 31, even when his team mates had days off, and he’s not feeling any discomfort anymore,” Koeman told a news conference on Saturday.

“He’s ready, he’s feeling happy and very determined and that’s very important for us.”

Messi is now into the final six months of his contract with Barca and has stated he will not decide his future until the end of the campaign, but Koeman said the uncertainty was no distraction for his side.

“Like any player who is finishing their contract, he is free to decide what he wants,” he said.

“He’s proved he wants the best for this team and I have no problem with him not making his decision now.

“We aren’t feeling nervous or worried about it.”

Barca’s draw with Eibar left them sixth in the standings and 10 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who also have a game in hand.

Koeman, however, repeated his earlier belief that his side were slipping out of the title race.

“I’m a realist when it comes to our chances of winning the league.

“We cannot afford to drop many more points, and as Atletico are so consistent, it’s very difficult for us.

“ Each point lost is another chance gone,” he said.

While Messi returns against Huesca, Barca will be without Philippe Coutinho, who underwent surgery on a knee injury and will be out for around three months.

The Brazilian is the fourth player the Catalans have lost to a long term injury this season after Ansu Fati, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto.

“We will keep working with what we have but we have lost important players of real quality,” added the Dutch coach.

The coach also sent his best wishes to former Barca team mate Eusebio Sacristan, who is in an induced coma after suffering a fall. (Reuters/NAN)