Rangers International have booked their spot in the second round of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) preliminary fixtures after edging out Comoros side US Zilimadjou in their first-round clash on Friday, August 23.
Rangers defeated Zilimadjou 1-0 in the first leg, thanks to a 22nd-minute strike from Frank Uwumiro at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday, August 18.
Although Rangers head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the Flying Antelopes’ missed chances in the first leg, the reigning NPFL champions displayed similar wastefulness in the first half on Tuesday.
After a toothless first half from both sides, Rangers started the second half with more intent and found the back of the net in the 51st minute, though Uwumiro’s strike was eventually ruled out for offside.
Twenty-eight minutes later, the Flying Antelopes finally got a goal that stood, as Kenechukwu Agu made no mistake from the penalty spot. Kenechukwu’s strike brought the aggregate score to 2-0, but Rangers’s lead was halved when Zilimadjou pulled one back in the 86th minute.
The Comoros side couldn’t complete the comeback, as Rangers held on for a 2-1 aggregate victory after two legs.
This victory propels Rangers to the second round of the CAFCL, where they’ll face the winner between ST Louis and Sagrada Esperança.
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