Substitute Kazeem Ogunleye’s late goal earned Enugu Rangers a 1-0 win over Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in a CAF Champions League qualifier on Friday. The 18-year-old striker scored with a well-placed shot from just outside the box, sealing the victory in the southeastern Nigerian city of Uyo.
Despite dominating possession in the second-round first leg, Enugu Rangers struggled with poor passing and finishing, until Ogunleye’s decisive strike.
Enugu Rangers narrowly advanced to the final qualifying stage after a 2-1 aggregate win over Comoran champions Zilimadjou, with both legs played in Nigeria due to the lack of an international-standard stadium in the Comoros. Zilimadjou opted to play both fixtures in West Africa rather than a neutral location.
Enugu Rangers will now head to Angola for the return leg against Sagrada Esperanca in Luanda next weekend, as they look to become the first Nigerian team to win the prestigious African club title since Enyimba’s back-to-back triumphs in 2003 and 2004.
Elsewhere, US Monastir of Tunisia also secured a 1-0 first-leg win at home against Algeria’s former champions Mouloudia Alger. Fourat Soltani’s 22nd-minute strike, deflected in by Ayoub Ghezala, was enough to secure the victory in Rades, just outside Tunis.
Mouloudia famously became Algeria’s first African champions in 1976, overturning a 3-0 deficit to Guinea’s Hafia before winning on penalties.
This weekend’s CAF Champions League action continues with nine matches on Saturday and five on Sunday. Defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt will kick off their bid for a record-extending 13th title on Sunday against Kenya’s Gor Mahia.
