Enugu Rangers took an important step toward qualifying for the group stage of the CAF Champions League on Sunday afternoon, beating MC Alger in the first leg of the final round of qualification.

Two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match secured the win for the Nigeria Premier Football League defending champions at the Moshood Kashimawo Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

Rangers hosted the Algerian side about 50 years after they overturned the Flying Antelopes’ two-goal lead to reach the final of the 1976 African Cup of Champions Clubs before eventually winning the title against Guinea’s Haifa FC on penalties.

It was a fiery affair that saw both teams pick up red cards on the pitch, while an official of the Algerian team got his marching orders in a keenly contested match.

Super Eagles left-back Kenneth Igboke scored from the penalty spot in the 81st minute, while James Eno found the back of the net a few minutes later to help the “home side” to a 2-0 win ahead of the second leg.

Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side will look to avoid what happened in 1976, when ahead of the second leg in Algiers, as they look to reach the group stage of the new CAF Champions League format for the first time.