By Kayode John
Nigeria Professional Football League champions Enugu Rangers recorded a narrow 1-0 victory over Sagrada Esperanca in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round tie in Uyo on Friday.
In the CAF Confederation Cup on the same evening, Enyimba secured a 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante in their second preliminary round first leg clash in Bamako, Mali.
Rangers, whose home ground, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, was not approved by the Confederation of African Football for their continental matches, had to host their Angolan opponents at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The NPFL champions were frustrated for the majority of the game by the visitors.
The Flying Antelopes found the breakthrough in the 78th minute, with substitute Kazeem Ogunleye scoring the only goal of the encounter.
The result echoes Rangers’ struggles in the first round of the competition against Union Sportive de Zilimadjou of Comoros Islands, when they laboured to a 2-1 aggregate victory despite playing both legs in Uyo.
The second leg against Esperanca is scheduled for next week in Luanda, where Rangers would advance if they avoid defeat.
Meanwhile, Enyimba battled to a creditable draw at the Stade Mamadou Konate in Bamako, where Etoile Filante have had to play their home games due to CAF standards.
Two-time African champions Enyimba were given a bye into this round of the competition and would advance further with any form of victory over Etoile Filante at home next week.
