Nigeria’s flagship clubs delivered starkly different performances on Sunday as the preliminary rounds of the CAF inter-club competitions kicked off. While El-Kanemi Warriors put on a commanding display in the CAF Confederation Cup, reigning domestic champions Enugu Rangers stumbled at home, leaving their continental ambitions on fragile ground.
Federation Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors effectively took control of their fixture with a clinical 3-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau side União Desportiva Internacional de Bissau. Forced to play their home leg away from Maiduguri at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, the Warriors broke open a tense, scoreless contest right after the break. Nnamdi Mejuobi sparked the second-half blitz, netting the opener in the 52nd minute and doubling the lead from the penalty spot just four minutes later. Dayo Wahab rounded off the dominant spell with a late third, handing El-Kanemi a comfortable cushion to take into the second leg.
Enugu Rangers endured a far more frustrating outing in the CAF Champions League, settling for a 1-1 draw against Beninese outfit AS Sobemap at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. The Flying Antelopes drew first blood in the 32nd minute through a sharp finish from Chidozie Iwundu, but their inability to consolidate control proved costly when Emmanuel Ali leveled for the visitors shortly after the restart. With no advantage to hold on to, Rangers face a demanding task across the border, where only a win or a high-scoring draw will secure passage to the next round. Catch all the latest continental match updates on Zoyols News.
