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Enugu Rangers were eliminated from the CAF Champions League after losing 3-1 away to Angolan club Sagrada Esperança on Sunday, leaving Nigeria without a representative in the group stage.
Rangers exited 3-2 on aggregate after establishing a one-goal lead in the first leg of the second-round qualifier last weekend.
The Nigerians have competed in the Champions League four times and have never made it to the mini-league phase, where prize money of $800,000 (715,000 euros) is awarded to this season’s qualifiers.
Enugu trailed 2-0 during the first half in Luanda against rivals playing 850 kilometres (530 miles) from their Dundo base, as the ground there does not meet international standards.
Anayor Ogbonna then scored before half-time for Rangers, bringing the clubs level on aggregate at 2-2 and edging Enugu ahead on away goals.
Jaime Pimpão scored the only goal of the second half in the 67th minute to put Sagrada two goals ahead again in the second leg, and they maintained that advantage to seal Enugu’s fate.
The other Nigerian qualifiers for the premier African club competition this season, Remo Stars, lost to Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the first round last month.
Sagrada reached the group stage once in three previous appearances, and their qualification follows the surprising failure of fellow Angolans Petro Luanda to be among the 16 survivors.
Petro were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday and lost 2-1 on aggregate.
Malian club Djoliba made history after winning 1-0 away to Togolese outfit ASKO Kara in Lomé, progressing 2-0 on aggregate.
At the 12th attempt, the Bamako team became the first club from the West African nation to reach the group phase of the Champions League.
Former champions Stade Abidjan of Ivory Coast, back in the competition after a 54-year absence, along with FAR Rabat and Al Hilal of Sudan, also qualified on Sunday.
AFP
