Enugu Rangers survived a tense night in Lomé to reach the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after beating AS Sobemap 5-4 on penalties.
The Nigerian champions were held to a 1-1 draw by the Benin Republic side at the Stade de Kégué on Friday, September 11, leaving the first-round tie level at 2-2 on aggregate.
With neither team able to find a winning goal during normal time, qualification had to be decided from the penalty spot. Rangers missed their opening kick but recovered to convert five penalties in a row, while Sobemap missed two of their attempts.
The result keeps the Nigerian champions’ continental campaign alive and moves the Flying Antelopes into the next stage of the competition.
Rangers and Sobemap Produce Another 1-1 Draw
The second leg followed a familiar pattern after the two sides had also played out a 1-1 draw in the first meeting in Abeokuta.
The Enugu side had taken the lead in that first match through Chidozie Iwundu before Emmanuel Ali restored parity for Sobemap after the break. The result meant the Nigerian champions travelled to Lomé knowing they needed to finish the job away from home.
Instead, another tight contest unfolded.
Rangers again found a way to take the lead, but Sobemap refused to go away. The Beninese champions eventually equalised in the second half, ensuring that the tie remained on a knife-edge until the final whistle.
Neither side could produce the decisive second goal, sending the contest into penalties after a 2-2 aggregate score.
Rangers Hold Their Nerve in Penalty Shootout
The penalty shootout provided the biggest moment of pressure for the Flying Antelopes.
The Nigerian champions missed their first attempt, immediately giving Sobemap an opportunity to seize control of the tie.
The Enugu outfit responded strongly, converting their next five penalties to put the pressure back on their opponents.
Sobemap, meanwhile, failed to convert two of their kicks. Rangers eventually completed a 5-4 shootout victory, sparking relief for a side that had been pushed to the limit across the two legs.
Azeez Falolu reportedly scored the decisive penalty as the Nigerian champions finally secured their place in the next round.
Rangers Keep Their African Campaign Alive
For Rangers, qualification is important after a difficult opening round against a Sobemap side making its debut in the competition.
The Flying Antelopes entered the CAF Champions League as Nigeria’s representatives after winning the Nigeria Premier Football League title.
However, they were unable to put the tie beyond doubt during either leg. Both matches ended 1-1, meaning the Enugu side needed penalties to separate the teams.
That lack of a winning margin will be something Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side will need to address in the next round.
The quality of opposition is expected to increase as Rangers move deeper into the competition, and the Nigerian champions will need to become more clinical if they are to make a serious push for the group stage.
Who Will Rangers Face Next?
Rangers’ next opponent will come from the tie between Algerian side MC Alger and ASN Nigelec of Niger Republic.
The two clubs drew 0-0 in their first meeting, leaving their own qualification battle finely balanced ahead of the return fixture.
Whoever progresses will provide the Nigerian champions with a significantly different challenge in the next round.
The Flying Antelopes will therefore have little time to celebrate their shootout victory. Their attention will soon turn to preparing for another two-legged continental contest and finding a way to improve on their narrow escape against Sobemap.
Rangers Survive But Bigger Tests Await
The most important thing for the Nigerian champions is that they are through.
A difficult first-round tie ended with the Flying Antelopes showing enough composure under pressure to get over the line. They conceded their lead twice across the two matches, failed to win either game in normal time and then had to recover from an early penalty miss.
Yet they still found a way to qualify.
That resilience could prove valuable as the CAF Champions League campaign develops. Rangers now have another opportunity to represent Nigerian football on the continental stage and push closer to the group phase.
The road ahead will be tougher, but the Flying Antelopes have survived their first major test.
For now, Rangers can celebrate a 5-4 penalty victory in Lomé and a place in the second preliminary round.
The CAF Champions League journey continues.
