MFM Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, in celebratory mood after the team’s victory in their last match

As Lagos-based MFM FC tackles Rangers International of Enugu on Wednesday, the club’s Media Officer, Olawale Quadri, says his team will ensure a win against the seven-time Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the midweek NPFL Match Day 30, between the Olukoya Boys and the Flying Antelopes will take place at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.

Rangers have a rich history in league matches winning it seven times in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982 and 2016.

MFM which made their debut in 2015/2016 season with relegation scare eventually finished 16th on the log with 45 points from 36 league matches, with 12 wins, 9 draws and 15 losses.

The 2015/2016 fixtures between MFM and the faltering defending champions, Rangers ended in one win apiece. The church Boys won their Match Day 10 encounters 1-0 in Agege.

The Flying Antelope, however, won the reverse Match Day 30 by the same margin at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.

Rangers have not been impressive in the defence of the title they won last year and also lost out in the African Champions League in the early stage of the competition.

The Coal City Boys are presently languishing in 17th place on the NPFL log with 36 points from 29 matches. They have nine wins, nine draws and 11 losses.

The Church Boys on the contrary are spiced up to succeed Rangers as league champions. They are placed second on the league table with 49 points from 29 matches.

The Fidelis Illechukwu-tutored team has 15 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses.

The Olukoya Boys will have to test their resolve for a history in NPFL against a less-fancied interim Manager, Chukwuma Agbo-led Rangers after the league winning coach Imama Amapakabo was given the booth.

On records, MFM have been firing from all cylinders since the beginning of the season and had performed better in their previous campaigns in the NPFL with strong wins over league’s heavy weights.

The side earned four points against 3SC of Ibadan in the South-West encounter; after which they dispatched Sunshine Stars of Akure in their two legged match.

The team, however, lost 0-1 away to Rivers United in the rescheduled Match Day 28 only to record a slim 1-0 win over Wikki Tourist of Bauchi, courtesy of Stephen Odey’s 40th minute strike.

Rangers on the other hand, have not been impressive this season recording only a paltry 9 wins in the 2016/2017 campaign and a surprising 1-1 home draw with 3SC of Ibadan in the Match Day 29 fixtures.

Baring the importance of the match, Olawale Quadri believes that his side is now ripe to contest for the maximum points at stake in the midweek fixture.

“We want to continue wining and replicate our fine form against Rangers because we have defeated them in our first meeting in NPFL.

“We played a 2-1 win in Agege in the first half and we want to build on that in as much as I understand that there are changes in the management and that the coach has left.

“We have a target to win the league or secure a continental ticket, so, for now all matches will be treated as final.

“A win against Rangers will be a major boost to our aspirations,’’ he said.

(NAN)