Rangers strike late for CAFCL win, as Enyimba earn valuable CAFCC away draw in Bamako

It was a solid outing for Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs still in continental competition on Friday, September 13.

Reigning NPFL champions Rangers International earned a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Sagrada Esperança at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, while Enyimba played a 0-0 draw against Étoile Filante at the Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako, Mali.

After defeating US Zilimadjou in the first round of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL), Rangers edged closer to the group stage with another 1-0 win, this time against Angola’s Sagrada Esperança in the first leg of the second preliminary round.

The Angolan side held the Flying Antelopes to a goalless first half, but Kazeem Ogunleye broke the deadlock in the 78th minute with a stunning long-range strike.

The Fidelis Ilechukwu-led side held on to the lead to seal the victory and break their three-game winless run against Angolan opposition ahead of the second leg at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Angola on Sunday, September 22.

Meanwhile, Enyimba, fresh off a 3-1 victory over Heartland FC in their NPFL opener, fired blanks in Bamako where they were held to a goalless draw by Étoile Filante in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) second preliminary round tie.

With the away draw in hand, Enyimba will aim to secure an aggregate victory when they host Étoile Filante in Nigeria on September 22.