Friday marks the continuation of two Nigerian teams’ journeys in the CAF interclub competitions: Fidelis Ilechukwu of Rangers will face a pivotal second test, while Yemi Olanrewaju, the coach of Enyimba, will make his continental debut.
Following the first-round elimination of El Kanemi Warriors and Remo Stars, both teams represent Nigeria.
Sagrada Esperanca of Angola will visit Enugu Rangers, while Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou of Burkina Faso will visit Enyimba in Mali.
Rangers need to learn from their early errors.
In their last three competitive games, Rangers has only managed to score two goals and give up one. They must rekindle their fervor in matters continental. Rangers were almost destroyed even though they had just played US Zilimadjou of the Comoros, a less than impressive opponent.
The Rangers and Sagrada Esperanca will play their first-ever game on Friday. Rangers have faced Angolan teams in the past, albeit their record is mixed—two victories, one defeat, and one draw.
The last time they faced an Angolan team was in 2013, and the match resulted in a draw.
Notably, Rangers’ Champions League triumph over Petro Atletico in 1985 is unforgettable.
Sagrada Esperanca, on the other hand, has little experience on the continent; their sole noteworthy accomplishment was a berth on a group stage in 2022.
As Rangers look to advance in the competition, their task will be to overcome the Angolans’ formidable defense, spearheaded by Congolese Joyce Mtambala.
Enyimba’s work while traveling
Enyimba, the other representative from Nigeria, had a successful warm-up, defeating Heartland in their derby before facing Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou in Mali for the CAF Confederation Cup. When Enyimba and Filante last faced each other in 2002, Enyimba came away with a convincing 4-0 victory in Aba.
Enyimba is keen to regain their position as a top continental team, having last advanced to the CAF group stage in 2021. Their only goal is to do well on the road in Mali so that the return leg is merely a formality.
The group has already seen setbacks in the early going, such their Champions League qualifying match defeat to Al Ahly Benghazi in 2023. They’ll try to steer clear of the same mistakes this time.
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