{
  "id": 3405083,
  "title": "NPFL: Rangers pick Abeokuta as temporary home ground",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/npfl-rangers-pick-abeokuta-as-temporary-home-ground",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T02:36:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/npfl-rangers-pick-abeokuta-as-temporary-home-ground/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Rangers International, have announced their decision to make the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta their temporary home ground for the upcoming season. This choice comes as the club's current stadium in Enugu undergoes renovations. The move will provide the Flying Antelopes with the chance to become more familiar with the ground before their CAF Champions League preliminary-round match against Benin Republic's AS Sobemap in September. Furthermore, Rangers and Shooting Stars have chosen the same venue as their home ground for their respective CAF inter-club competition fixtures. The Enugu-based club had previously agreed to use Remo Stars' stadium in Ikenne for their CAF Champions League preliminary-round campaign, but after discussions with their technical crew under the leadership of head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, they opted for the MKO Abiola Sports Arena. The Flying Antelopes clinched their ninth NPFL title in May by defeating Ikorodu City 2-1 in Lagos on the final day of the 2025/26 season. They are set to begin their continental campaign in September, with the need to negotiate the qualifying stages before moving on to the group phase.",
  "summary": "NPFL champions Rangers International will use MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta as their temporary home ground for title defence and CAF Champions League Read More: https://punchng.com/npfl-rangers-pick-abeokuta-as-temporary-home-ground/",
  "key_points": [
    "Rangers International to use MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.",
    "Club's Enugu stadium undergoing renovations.",
    "Flying Antelopes to face AS Sobemap in CAF Champions League."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Rangers' switch to Abeokuta as temporary home ground lets them prepare for a CAF Champions League match at a familiar venue, also used by another Nigerian club, Shooting Stars.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "NPFL: Rangers pick Abeokuta as temporary home ground",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/npfl-rangers-pick-abeokuta-as-temporary-home-ground-3408648",
        "published": "2026-08-26T03:02:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}