NPFL: Rangers reportedly seeking Ilechukwu as Maikaba's replacement
i

Plateau United boss Fidelis Ilechukwu

NPFL: Rangers reportedly seeking Ilechukwu as Maikaba's replacement

Jidechi Chidiezie 20:52 - 16.05.2023

Rangers since the start of the 2023 season, have suffered a torrid time under Maikaba, and only recently escaped relegation with a game to go.

Seven-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Rangers are reportedly seeking to replace head coach Abdu Maikaba with Plateau United boss Fidelis Ilechukwu at the end of the season.

Rangers since the start of the 2023 season, have suffered a torrid time under Maikaba, and only recently escaped relegation with either of Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists one of the teams to drop to the NNL, from NPFL Group B alongside Dakkada.

Rangers reportedly eyeing Ilechukwu

Reports according to Best Choice Sports suggest that the Enugu State Government is working towards bringing in Ilechukwu as Rangers' new manager.

Ilechukwu had joined Plateau United in 2021 after having left Owerri-based club Heartland FC. His first season in Jos saw him help Plateau United to a second-place finish, and qualify them for the CAF Champions League.

This season, however, Ilechukwu have struggled to get the necessary points with Plateau United, most recently, missing out on qualifying for the Super 6 playoffs.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

His 5th position achievement in Group A after 17 matches with Plateau United, is, however, better than Maikaba's 7th position with Rangers in Group B, only 4 points away from relegation.

Maikaba's Rangers with a chance to end season well

Meanwhile, the final set of matches this season will see Maikaba attempt to end the 2023 season on a good note. The seven-time Nigerian on Sunday, May 21, will welcome defending champions Rivers United to the Awka City Stadium in their final match of the season.

Abdu Maikaba with his players. (Photo Credit: Rangers Media).
Abdu Maikaba with his players. (Photo Credit: Rangers Media).

Beyond the league, Rangers are one of the last 16 teams in the 2023 Federation Cup and will look to make the quarterfinals of the competition when they take on Ekiti's FC Ebedei on Wednesday, May 24.

Rangers are six-time champions of Nigeria's Federation Cup.

Related content