CAF Champions League: Rangers Must Win Convincingly, Ezeaku Says

Rangers International manager Amobi Ezeaku says the Nigerian champions must win convincingly when they open their 2026/27 CAF Champions League campaign against Benin Republic’s SOBEMAP in Abeokuta on Sunday.

Rangers have adopted the MKO Abiola Sports Arena as their temporary home while renovation work continues at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. The team drew 1-1 in its opening 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League match last weekend before turning its attention to the continental fixture.

Ezeaku expects strong support from fans in Abeokuta, Lagos, Ikenne and neighboring states. “There is light at the end of the tunnel for us. On Sunday, we expect that more fans will come out from Abeokuta, Lagos, Ikenne, and a lot of people have also come in from neighbouring states. We have to grind out the result, win convincingly and advance,” he said.

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There is light at the end of the tunnel for us. On Sunday, we expect that more fans will come out from Abeokuta, Lagos, Ikenne, and a lot of people have also come in from neighbouring states. We have to grind out the result, win convincingly and advance.

“We want to take each game as it comes. We have our eyes on the Champions League and we are not losing focus,” Ezeaku added.

Rangers are seeking a continental run that reflects the history of the Enugu club, whose biggest African success came in the 1977 African Cup Winners’ Cup. The last time they reached the preliminary round after winning the NPFL title, in 2024, they failed to reach the group stage.

If Rangers advance, they will face the winner of the second preliminary-round tie between Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec and Algeria’s MC Alger.

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We want to take each game as it comes. We have our eyes on the Champions League and we are not losing focus.