Head coach of Benin champions SOBEMAP FC, Dr Narcisse Tinkeu, has played down the significance of his side’s 1–1 draw against Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie, insisting that the result could easily have gone against his team.
SOBEMAP came away from the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta with an important away draw after cancelling out Rangers’ lead, but Tinkeu believes the scoreline does not tell the full story of a fiercely contested encounter.
Rather than celebrating the result, the Beninese coach acknowledged the quality of the Nigerian champions and admitted that his team were fortunate not to leave Nigeria empty-handed.
“This is not a big result. We could have lost the game. Rangers is a very good team.”
Tinkeu said SOBEMAP arrived in Nigeria with a clear intention to win the first leg, but Rangers’ performance made that objective difficult to achieve.
The 1–1 result nevertheless gives the Benin champions a platform heading into the decisive second leg, where they will have the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters.
The SOBEMAP coach believes that home support could become an important factor as both teams fight for a place in the next round of Africa’s premier club competition.
“We came here to win, but Rangers made it difficult for us. Now we have the second leg at home and we will rely on our supporters to help us get the result we need.”
The first-leg outcome leaves the qualification battle finely balanced, with neither side able to claim a decisive advantage after 90 minutes.
For Rangers, the result will be viewed as a missed opportunity after failing to protect home advantage, while SOBEMAP return to Benin knowing that a victory in the reverse fixture would be enough to send them through.
Tinkeu’s comments also underline the respect he has for Rangers, with the Nigerian champions having shown enough quality to make the tie a difficult contest despite SOBEMAP’s experience and ambition.
The Cameroonian coach brings considerable technical and performance expertise to SOBEMAP. He has previously worked within Cameroon’s national-team setup as a physical trainer and performance specialist, while also having experience in African club football.
He has also recently celebrated helping SOBEMAP win the Benin national championship and qualify for the CAF Champions League, describing the achievement as the culmination of significant work in performance preparation.
Now, that preparation faces its biggest test.
Rangers will need to produce a stronger performance away from home, while SOBEMAP must prove that their home advantage can turn a hard-earned Nigerian draw into qualification.
The first leg produced no winner — and Tinkeu is making sure his players do not mistake a draw for progress. The real battle awaits in Benin.
