By Victor Kanayo
Two remaining Nigerian clubs in both CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup – Rangers international and Enyimba FC experienced different outcomes in Sunday’s second preliminary return leg matches.
While Rangers crashed out after falling to a 2-3 aggregate defeat to Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in Champions League, Enyimba showed classical stuff after defeating Etoile Filate of Burkina Faso.
Enyimba FC are the only Nigerian side left in the continent after Remo Stars, El-kanemi warriors and Enugu Rangers were ousted.
Meanwhile, defending champions Al Ahly SC, as well as former champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and TP Mazembe all secured qualification in the group stage of the Champions League.
Two matches took place in South Africa on Saturday where 1995 champions, Orlando Pirates secured their place in the group stages of the competition for the first time in five years after overcoming Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy 1-0 in Orlando, Soweto.
Sundowns were also in action against Eswatini’s Mbabane Swallows whom they had outclassed 4-0 in the first leg.
The 2016 champions wrapped up the two-legged tie at home with another 4-0 win to double the aggregate score with no response from their opponents.
Reigning champions Al Ahly cruised past Kenya’s Gor Mahia with a clinical 3-0 display in Cairo to comfortably march into the group stages.
The record-title holders came into the clash with a comfortable 3-0 first leg win, which they comfortably replicated in Cairo.
Despite having one foot into the group stage with a first leg 2-0-win, TP Mazembe had to keep a resilient Red Arrows at bay in Lubumbashi.
The shock result of the afternoon was in undoubtedly in Luanda when Petro de Luanda saw their Champions League dream shattered by DR Congo side, AS Maniema Union, who advanced to the group stages for the first time in the history of the competition at the expense of the Angolan champions.
