By Daily Sports on December 9, 2016

Rangers' central defender, Chibuzor Madu says Wednesday's Super4 opener against Rivers United was a good test and a sign of similar battles ahead as the league's defending champions ready themselves for continental duties.

After a tough first period for the Rangers backline, it was Chisom Egbuchulam's brace that saved the day for the Flying Antelopes, finally getting a heavily reinforced Rivers United side on their knees with two glorious strikes. Madu, in a chat with www.npfl.ng revealed they were up against a much improved team.

"When the game started, I told my partner (Pape Ousmane Sane) that this is not going to be an easy game. This was not like the last time we played Rivers United because this Rivers United team, they have some very sharp and fast attackers. It was a good test for us and I'm glad that at the end we went past the hurdle."

"As a defender going into the Champions League, you should expect that. You're going to play against the best teams on the continent. So it's good that we face strong teams especially in our preparatory matches. I think what helped us in the game was that never-say-die spirit especially when it was not going well for us in the first half and it's a good quality if you're going to do well in the continent," the defender said.

The defender who boasts of experience both in the league and on the continent says work must continue on the team especially in defence where they shipped in the most number of goals of the top-five teams last season.

"Look, we have a very big task ahead," Madu continues. "So we have to keep working hard and staying determined and telling ourselves, we cannot keep conceding cheap goals anymore. We have to improve our marking because in the league and the Champions League, you can't go far by conceding cheap goals. We just have to keep working well together as a unit."

He also believes the older heads must guide the younger bunch most of who are playing on the continent for the first time. "From last season, it's the older players that have been encouraging the new ones." Madu reveals. "We've got good young players that are ready to work. With our experience when they see us doing our best, I'm very sure the younger ones can play their part.

"We are not there yet but with time, coupled with this Super4 we are playing, we will keep improving. We just have to take it one game after the other. We believe we can win the Champions League, we don't just want to participate. We can surprise the world, we can surprise the whole country and our fans but it's one game at a time and it's step by step. This team can only get better," Madu assured. (npfl.ng)

•Photo shows Chibuzor Madu

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 9, 2016

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