Rangers Beat AS SOBEMAP on Penalties, Set to Face Rivers United Next

Rangers International faced a tense match against AS SOBEMAP from the Benin Republic. They won the game 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Stade de Kégué, Lomé, on Friday.

This result means the Flying Antelopes move on to the second preliminary round. Both teams ended the tie with a 2-2 aggregate score after drawing 1-1 in both legs.

Rangers knew they needed a win to keep their hopes alive in this competition. They were frustrated after the first leg ended in a draw at their temporary home in Abeokuta.

In Lomé, the match was tightly contested. Both teams fought hard, but neither could find the winning goal during regular time.

With the aggregate score tied at 2-2, the game went to penalties. Rangers showed they could handle the pressure, scoring five of their penalties to win the shootout 5-4. This victory secured their spot in the next round of Africa’s premier club competition.

This win is a huge relief for the Flying Antelopes. They had missed several chances in the first leg, which left them feeling frustrated.

Chidozie Iwundu scored Rangers’ only goal in the first match in Abeokuta, but AS SOBEMAP equalized to keep the tie balanced going into the second match.

Despite facing challenges in Lomé, Rangers kept their cool during the penalty shootout. This win saved them from an early exit from the competition.

Now, the Enugu club is looking forward to the second preliminary round. They will play against either ASN Nigelec from Niger Republic or the famous MC Alger from Algeria.

The two teams also ended their first-leg meeting in a goalless draw. This means their qualification battle is still very open ahead of their return match on Saturday.

For Rangers, qualifying on Friday is a key step in their journey to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League. But the next round promises to be even more challenging.