Enugu Rangers power through

Enugu Rangers player Charles Henlong

Sunday Sep 29, 2019. 18:00

Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers have powered into the playoff round of the 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup with a 3-1 win (4-3 on aggregate) over AS Pelican of Gabon on Sunday.

The first leg in Libreville earlier this month ended 2-1 in favour of Pelican, leaving Rangers in need of a strong home showing to turn the first round tie in their favour.

Pelican got off to the perfect start, claiming an early away goal when Dertin Amores curled home a shot direct from a free kick in the sixth minute.

The early goal stunned Rangers, but they worked their way back into the game and levelled at 1-1 in the 18th minute when a long ball from goalkeeper Japhet Opubo set up Ifeanyi George to score for the hosts.

With the match locked at 1-1 at half time, the Flying Antelopes came out determined to assert their dominance and just seven minutes into the second half they went into the lead, with Egbujuo Nnamdi heading home to make it 2-1 on the day and 3-3 overall.

Shortly thereafter the hosts went ahead in the overall score of the tie for the first time, as the hard-working Ibrahim Olawoyin scored Rangers’ third of the day.

Pelican dialled up the pressure in the dying minutes, but were unable to find the second away goal which would have given them qualification to the next phase.