Nigeria champions Rangers International have booked their place in the second preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League after overcoming AS Sobemap of Benin Republic 5-4 on penalties in a tense return leg in Lomé, Togo.
The Flying Antelopes were pushed all the way at the Stade de Kégué on Friday after another closely fought encounter between the West African sides ended 1-1, forcing the qualification battle to be decided from the spot.
With the first leg in Abeokuta also finishing 1-1, the two teams could not be separated after the return fixture, leaving the aggregate score at 2-2.
Rangers, however, kept their composure when the pressure reached its highest point, converting their penalties to claim a 5-4 shootout victory and keep their continental campaign alive.
The dramatic qualification comes five days after Rangers were frustrated on home soil in the opening leg.
Chidozie Iwundu had given the Nigerian champions the advantage in Abeokuta, scoring in the first half before AS Sobemap responded after the interval to secure a valuable 1-1 draw.
That result left Rangers facing a difficult assignment in Lomé, where Sobemap staged their home fixture at Stade de Kégué.
Neither side could establish the decisive advantage needed to settle the contest without a shootout, but Rangers eventually prevailed from 12 yards to avoid an early exit from Africa’s premier club competition.
The result represents an important breakthrough for the Flying Antelopes, particularly after surrendering their lead in the first leg and travelling for the return encounter with the tie finely balanced.
Attention will now turn to an even tougher assignment in the second preliminary round.
CAF’s official draw has paired the winner of Rangers’ tie with Sobemap against the winner of the first-round contest between ASN Nigelec of Niger Republic and Algerian giants MC Alger.
The second preliminary round is scheduled for October, with the first legs taking place between October 16 and 18 and the return fixtures from October 23 to 25. The winners of those ties will advance to the CAF Champions League group stage.
For Rangers, Friday’s victory may not have arrived comfortably, but continental football frequently demands resilience as much as quality.
After two draws, 210 minutes of tension across the tie and a nerve-racking penalty shootout, Rangers are still standing — and now just one qualifying round separates the Nigerian champions from the CAF Champions League group stage.
