*CAF Confed Cup: El Kanemi walk tight rope with 2-2 draw with Morocco’s Raja
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Enugu Rangers, Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League secured a vital home win yesterday against MC Alger of Algeria in the second round first leg match played in Abeokuta.
The Flying Antelopes achieved the feat with a 10-man squad as their goalkeeper, Lucky Jimoh, was sent off early in the game. They played almost an hour with a man down.
Rangers showed character to fight on to get two late goals and keep a clean sheet going into the return leg in North Africa.
First half was scoreless with the visitors enjoying more of the ball.
Super Eagles defender Kenneth Igboke opened scoring for Rangers in the 84th minute from the penalty spot, before James Emo doubled the advantage three minutes later.
An Algerian player and an official also saw red in this encounter.
The overall winners of this tie will advance to the mini-league stage of the competition.
Elsewhere yesterday, Nigeria’s team in the CAF Confederation Cup, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri forced visiting Morocco giants, Raja Club Athletic to a 2-2 draw in Ikenne.
The Moroccans were on the verge of achieving an away victory at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, but for the hosts El Kanemi to grab a late equaliser with all to play for in the second leg next weekend in Casablanca.
El Kanemi took an early lead after just six minutes, but Mohammed Sharara found the equaliser for the CAF Confederation Cup two-time winners Raja after 24 minutes as both sides went to the break tied.
At the hour mark, Nigerian-born forward, Mathias Oyewusi gave Raja the lead, and the Green Eagles kept ahead but for El Kanemi Warriors to find the back of the net again eight minutes from time, as the game ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
Oyewusi, who was born in Jos, Plateau State, joined Raja in January 2026 after a spell with Ukrainian club Kolos Kovalivka, adding Morocco to a professional career that has taken him across several European leagues.
Raja will look to the reverse leg back home to ensure their group stage spot, while El Kanemi Warriors aim to produce a huge shock and oust one of the tournament’s favourites.