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Rivers United assistant coach, Olanrewaju Yemi Daniel, has warned that Nigerian football clubs still face a significant gap in quality and competitiveness compared with their North African counterparts following Rangers International’s elimination from the CAF Champions League.
Daniel said his earlier comments about the challenges confronting Nigerian teams in continental competitions had been dismissed as excuses, despite his experience working in African football over the past four seasons.
The coach made the remarks after Rangers suffered a 3-0 defeat to Algerian club MC Alger in the second leg of their second preliminary round tie on Friday.
The result saw the Flying Antelopes crash out of the competition 3-2 on aggregate, having failed to protect the 2-0 advantage they secured in the first leg.
Rangers had appeared to be in a strong position to advance after winning the first encounter by two goals, but MC Alger overturned the deficit with a convincing performance in the return fixture.
The defeat ended Rangers’ campaign in the continent’s premier club competition and renewed discussions about the difficulties Nigerian clubs encounter when competing against some of Africa’s established football sides.
Daniel recalls criticism over earlier warning
Reacting to Rangers’ elimination, Daniel took to his social media handle to recall his earlier assessment of the challenges facing Nigerian clubs in continental competitions.
“I said this early this year but they said I was giving excuses,” he wrote.
The Rivers United assistant coach expressed frustration that his previous comments had been interpreted as an attempt to justify the struggles of Nigerian teams rather than an observation based on his experience in African football.
His reaction suggested that the defeat suffered by Rangers had reinforced concerns he had previously raised about the competitiveness of Nigerian clubs on the continent.
Daniel did not, however, provide further details about the earlier remarks or identify those who had accused him of making excuses.
Coach cites four consecutive seasons in Africa
To support his position, Daniel pointed to his involvement in continental football over the past four consecutive seasons.
He also cited his experience of reaching the group stages of CAF competitions in successive campaigns with two different clubs, highlighting what he described as his practical exposure to the demands of competing against teams from different African leagues.
His experience, according to the comments, has informed his assessment of the challenges Nigerian clubs face when attempting to progress in continental competitions.
Daniel’s remarks come amid continued scrutiny of the performances of Nigerian teams in CAF tournaments, where qualification often requires clubs to negotiate difficult away fixtures and maintain their advantages over two-legged ties.
While his comments did not identify specific technical, financial or administrative factors responsible for the disparity, he maintained that the difference between Nigerian clubs and their North African counterparts remained substantial.
‘The gaps dey wide’
Emphasising his position, Daniel added: “We can only try but the gaps dey wide.”
The statement captured his concern that Nigerian clubs continue to face a considerable challenge in matching their North African rivals in continental competitions.
His comments also suggested that effort alone might not be sufficient to overcome the disparity, although he did not outline specific measures that could help Nigerian clubs close the gap.
North African teams have frequently featured prominently in CAF club competitions, while Nigerian clubs continue to seek greater consistency in their performances and progress in the tournaments.
Rangers’ defeat to MC Alger illustrates how quickly a promising position can change in a two-legged contest. Despite carrying a two-goal lead into the return fixture, the Enugu-based side conceded three times without scoring, allowing their Algerian opponents to advance.
Rangers’ exit raises fresh questions
The elimination represents a setback for Rangers, who had hoped to progress further in the Champions League after their first-leg victory.
The aggregate result also places Daniel’s warning at the centre of a wider conversation about the competitiveness of Nigerian clubs in African football.
His comments have drawn attention to the need to understand the factors that influence performances in continental competitions, including the preparation required to sustain results across home and away fixtures.
However, Daniel did not specify the changes he believes Nigerian clubs should make to improve their continental performances, nor did he attribute Rangers’ defeat to any particular deficiency.
For Rangers, the immediate consequence is the end of their Champions League campaign, while MC Alger advance after overturning the Nigerian side’s first-leg advantage.
Daniel’s intervention has added another perspective to the debate over Nigerian football’s standing on the continent, with the Rivers United assistant coach insisting that the disparity between Nigerian sides and their North African counterparts remains wide.
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