Nigeria’s remaining representatives in CAF inter-club competitions have been handed heavyweight North African challenges, with Rangers International set to battle Algerian giants MC Alger in the CAF Champions League while El-Kanemi Warriors face Moroccan powerhouse Raja Casablanca in the Confederation Cup.
The second preliminary-round fixtures were confirmed following the conclusion of the opening qualifying round at the weekend, leaving Rangers and El-Kanemi as Nigeria’s surviving clubs on the continent after Rivers United and Shooting Stars were eliminated.
For both Nigerian sides, the equation is now straightforward but daunting: win one more two-legged tie and enter the group stage.
Rangers booked their place in the second preliminary round after surviving a dramatic encounter against Benin Republic champions AS Sobemap.
The Flying Antelopes had been held to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg before another 1-1 result in Lomé left the tie deadlocked at 2-2 on aggregate.
With neither side able to find the decisive goal, qualification was settled from the penalty spot.
Rangers missed their opening kick but recovered impressively, eventually prevailing 5-4 in the shootout to keep their CAF Champions League campaign alive.
Their reward is a meeting with MC Alger — and an immediate rise in the level of opposition.
The Algerian champions progressed after overcoming ASN Nigelec of Niger Republic, setting up what promises to be one of the fascinating West Africa-North Africa battles of the second preliminary round.
CAF’s original draw had already placed the winner of Rangers versus Sobemap against the winner of the MC Alger versus ASN Nigelec tie, meaning the path was established before the competition kicked off.
For Rangers, the stakes could hardly be higher.
The Enugu club carry significant continental history, having won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977, but their immediate ambition is to return to the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
Their previous Champions League campaign following their 2024 NPFL title ended before the group phase, leaving the Flying Antelopes with another opportunity to go further this time.
While Rangers prepare for Algerian opposition, El-Kanemi Warriors face an equally intimidating assignment.
The Maiduguri side will meet Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round after surviving their opening tie against UDIB of Guinea-Bissau.
El-Kanemi did the major damage in the first leg, recording a commanding 3-0 victory in Ikenne.
That advantage proved decisive.
UDIB won the return fixture 1-0, but El-Kanemi comfortably survived on aggregate, progressing 3-1 to continue their continental adventure.
Waiting for them is a completely different proposition.
Raja Casablanca are one of African football’s most recognisable clubs and have won the CAF Champions League three times.
The Moroccans were among eight highly ranked clubs given byes into the Confederation Cup second preliminary round, meaning El-Kanemi will arrive battle-tested while Raja enter the competition at this stage.
The winner over two legs will secure a coveted place in the Confederation Cup group stage.
That makes the coming fixtures arguably the biggest tests yet for both Nigerian clubs.
There is also a wider Nigerian football story attached to the encounters.
Four Nigerian clubs began their continental campaigns, but that number was reduced to two over the weekend.
Rivers United’s CAF Champions League campaign ended against FC San Pedro, while Shooting Stars were eliminated from the Confederation Cup by CS Sfaxien. Rangers and El-Kanemi are therefore left carrying the country’s hopes into the decisive qualifying round.
CAF has scheduled the Champions League second preliminary-round first legs for October 16-18, with the return fixtures between October 23-25. The 16 winners will qualify for the Champions League group stage.
The Confederation Cup follows the same brutal principle: 32 clubs enter the second preliminary round and only 16 will remain for the group stage.
For Rangers, the obstacle is MC Alger.
For El-Kanemi, it is Raja Casablanca.
Neither assignment could be described as comfortable, but continental football rarely provides an easy route at this stage.
Nigeria started the campaign with four clubs dreaming of continental glory. Only Rangers and El-Kanemi remain — and now two North African giants stand between them and the CAF group stages.
