Julius OkorieNPFL reigning Champions, Rangers International, will need to double their effort if they are to avoid early exit from this year’s CAF Champions League.
The Enugu based side grabbed a lone victory over Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in the first leg of a two legged preliminary round of the competition on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe visitors held their ground playing away notwithstanding, an indication that the return leg on Sunday, September 22 in Luanda, will be a tough nut to crack for the Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored Flying Antelopes.
A 78th minute goal by Kazeem Ogunleye was all the Coal City boys were able to scratch from the tough encounter.
Recall that Nigeria’s second campaigners in the CAF Champions league, Remo Stars exited the competition in the first round of the preliminary round after losing to AS FAR of morocco in Rabat.
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The Ikenne based side had taken a 2-1 advantage to Rabat but were unable to hold their own, as AS FAR clinched 2-0 victory to progress on 3-2 aggregate.
Consolidating on their lone goal advantage for Rangers will certainly be a tough mountain to climb.
If past experience is anything to go by however, the odds should favour Rangers playing away notwithstanding.
The Nigerian side, have been regulars at the continental championship 10 appearances though the highest they have reached is 1982 semifinals.
Sagrada on the other hand, are making just their third appearance after a debut in 2005 where they crashed out in the first round followed by 2006 where they crashed out in the preliminary stage. That is not however to say that they are green horns as they have made two appearances in the CAF Cup and CAF Winners’ Cup respectively.
Meanwhile, Enyimba competing in the CAF Confederation Cup, stands a chance of getting a good result when they take on Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso in the second leg of their two legged second preliminary round fixtures.
The Peoples Elephants held their Burkinabe counterparts to a goalless draw in the first leg played in Bamako on Friday.
The second leg comes up on Sunday September 22 at the Nest of Champions, Uyo which is serving as ground for the continental fixtures for both Rangers and Enyimba.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
