Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International F.C., will be flying into Maiduguri, Borno State, for their crucial Matchday 21 clash against the President Federation Cup holders, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C.

Biztellers reports that the Flying Antelopes would be flown by Max Air.

Inside sources at the Enugu Rangers have it that following a disappointing home loss in their previous match, the “Flying Antelopes” are determined to regain their winning form.

It was gathered that a 27-man delegation will depart Abuja on Monday morning for the short flight to Maiduguri, with the match scheduled for Wednesday, January 29th, 2025.

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The team aims to swiftly move past their recent setback against Niger Tornadoes and climb back up the league table.

“We are heading to Maiduguri with the sole objective of securing a positive result and keeping pace with the front-runners,” declared team captain, Ugwueze Chinemerem. “We have analyzed our previous match and are fully focused on regaining the lost ground.”

It’s worth noting that in the reverse fixture earlier this season on August 31st, 2024, Rangers and El-Kanemi played to a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will learn their group-stage opponents today as the draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes center stage in Morocco.

The tournament, hosted by the North African nation for the second time since 1988, is set to be one of the most spectacular editions in AFCON history.

In 1988, the competition featured just eight teams, but this year, 24 nations will compete for Africa’s biggest football prize.

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Nigeria, placed in Pot 1, will avoid fellow top-seeded teams such as Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage.

However, they could face challenging sides from Pot 2, including Cameroon, Mali, and Tunisia.

This year’s AFCON promises to be grander than ever before, featuring more teams than the 1988 edition, and a thrilling opening ceremony.

The ceremony will showcase some of the biggest names in African football history, with legends such as Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma, Tunisia’s Aymen Mathlouthi, and Ivory Coast’s Gervinho set to grace the event.

Adding to the excitement, a musical extravaganza will take place, with performances from Morocco’s Hatim Ammor, Congolese sensation Maître Gims, and renowned Moroccan music producer RedOne.

Recall that on Saturday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the official logo for AFCON 2025.

The design reflects Morocco’s rich cultural heritage, featuring the AFCON trophy adorned with zellige, the traditional Moroccan mosaic art, symbolizing the country’s unique blend of tradition and modernity.

The 24 qualified nations have been divided into four pots based on their FIFA rankings:

Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire

Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso

Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin

Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana

The draw will place these teams into six groups of four, with the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stage, promising thrilling action throughout the tournament.

Egypt, the most successful nation in AFCON history with seven titles, will aim to extend its dominance.

Côte d’Ivoire, the defending champions, have lifted the trophy three times, while Cameroon boasts five titles. Nigeria, with three championships, and Algeria, with two, are also strong contenders.

Morocco, the hosts, will look to replicate their 1976 triumph, their only AFCON victory.

Back then, the tournament followed a unique format, with the top four teams from the group stage playing in a final round-robin.

Morocco emerged victorious in Ethiopia, but this time, they will aim to claim the title on home soil in front of their passionate fans.

The Belgian Football Federation has named Frenchman Rudi Garcia as the new head coach of the national team, following the sacking of Domenico Tedesco after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.

In a statement released on Friday, the federation confirmed the appointment of the Underworld former Napoli, Lyon, and Roma manager, who will be formally introduced to the press later in the day.

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Garcia’s task will be to rejuvenate the Red Devils after their early exit from the European Championship and underwhelming performances in the Nations League.

Belgium recently parted ways with Tedesco, who had been in charge since February 2023.

The Italian-German coach was brought in to rebuild the squad following the departure of the country’s celebrated “golden generation” under Roberto Martinez but failed to deliver the expected results.

The team now faces a critical relegation play-off against Ukraine in March, before beginning their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a trip to North Macedonia in June.

Garcia brings a wealth of experience, having coached top European clubs such as Marseille and Lyon.

He also made his mark at Lille between 2008 and 2013, leading the French side to a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2011.

However, his most recent role at Napoli in 2023 ended in disappointment after just five months.