Nigeria Premier Football League champions Rangers International have rewarded head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu with a one-year contract extension, keeping the highly rated tactician at the Enugu-based club until 2027.
The new deal follows another successful campaign in which Ilechukwu guided the Flying Antelopes to their ninth NPFL title. Rangers sealed the championship on the final day of the 2025/26 season with a crucial 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
The extension further strengthens Ilechukwu's reputation as one of the most accomplished coaches in Nigerian domestic football.
Since taking charge of Rangers in 2023 after notable spells with MFM FC, Plateau United and Heartland, the 47-year-old has transformed the club into a dominant force, leading them to two league titles, including the 2023/24 and 2025/26 NPFL crowns.
Popularly known as "The Working One," Ilechukwu has restored Rangers to the summit of Nigerian football, turning the Coal City club into one of the country's most consistent and competitive sides after years of inconsistency.
With his future secured, attention will now shift to the CAF Champions League, where Rangers will represent Nigeria next season.
The Flying Antelopes endured a disappointing continental campaign in 2024/25, exiting the competition in the second preliminary round after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Angola's Sagrada Esperança. The club will be eager to make a stronger impact in their next appearance on the continental stage.
In addition to his club duties, Ilechukwu serves as an assistant coach with the Super Eagles, further underlining his growing influence and stature within Nigerian football.
