Chidozie Iwundu put the NPFL champions ahead in the 32nd minute. Emmanuel Ali equalised in the 46th minute, a minute after the restart, to give Sobemap a precious away goal.
The Flying Antelopes must now go to Benin next week and either win or score at least twice in a draw that would still leave the away-goal arithmetic against them if they fail to keep a clean sheet. A 1-1 second leg would send Sobemap through on away goals. Rangers need a win, or a 2-2 or better with more away goals than they concede.
Sunday’s pattern was familiar for Nigerian clubs in this round. Shooting Stars beat CS Sfaxien 1-0 in the Confederation Cup on the same complex last weekend; Rangers could not turn home control into a two-goal cushion. Iwundu’s finish looked set to give them the platform they wanted. Ali’s reply immediately after half-time changed the tie.
Rangers won the Nigeria Premier Football League last season and entered this campaign as the country’s top-flight champions. Sobemap travelled as underdogs and left with the result they would have taken before kick-off: a goal on the road and a level scoreline.
The second leg will decide who meets the next qualifying obstacle. For Rangers, the job is now to score in Benin and not concede the goal that would end their Champions League path at the first hurdle. For Sobemap, the away goal is the insurance they came to Abeokuta to find. They found it.