CAF CL: Rangers must win convincingly, says Ezeaku

General Manager of Rangers International, Amobi Ezeaku, believes the Nigeria Premier Football League champions cannot afford to be complacent in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, as they begin their campaign against Benin Republic’s SOBEMAP in Abeokuta on Sunday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Rangers have adopted the MKO Abiola Sports Arena as their temporary home ground this season, following renovation works at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

After playing a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the 2026/27 NPFL season last weekend, they have turned their attention to the continental engagement, with their visitors also taking time to study them during their opening NPFL game against Katsina United.

Ahead of the first leg of the first preliminary round, Ezeaku is banking on the support of fans across Nigeria while stressing that the team cannot afford to fail.

“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.”

Rangers return to Africa’s premier club competition hoping to make an impact that reflects the continental history of the Enugu club, whose biggest African triumph remains the 1977 African Cup Winners’ Cup.

The last time they made it to the preliminary round, they failed to reach the group stage of the competition after winning the NPFL title in 2024.

Should the Flying Antelopes progress this time, they will meet the winners of the tie between ASN Nigelec of Niger Republic and Algerian giants MC Alger in the second preliminary round.