Nchanga Rangers return to African inter-club championships after about a decade’s absence was ended right on their home turf as two virtuoso second half strikes blessed the Saints of Lupopo - St Eloi Lupopo - with an impressive 2-0 victory to advance to the next round of the Orange CAF Confederations Cup at Nchanga Stadium in northern Zambia.

Carrying a crucial 1-0 lead from the first leg played a fortnight ago in the Congolese city of Lubumbashi which is more famed for the exploits of TP Mazembe, Lupopo took on Rangers and cared less for the chants of the patriotic home fans as they dominated the game. Lupopo’s exploits belied Rangers coach Bruce Mwape’s prediction of a goals’ galore. Instead the visitors employed a tactical and cautious approach, breaking forward at intervals to keep Rangers at bay.

After a goal-less first 45 minutes, Tamundle Ziyunga headed in on 56 minutes; converting a Tady Agiti cross which Rangers goal-minder Rabson Muchelenganga had no answer to. The Saints’ drawing of first blood sent the hosts into a rush of near panic as they sought an equaliser which never came.

Right on the stroke of full time, Agiti rounded up the day’s proceedings. He disposed Rangers’ defender Moses Mulambi before rounding goalie Muchelenganga to shatter Rangers’ dream of progression.

Rangers trainer Bruce Mwape whose confidence and outright win prediction was made known to every listening fan and football follower conceded defeat stressing that his men did not play well.

In a post match interview with cafonline.com, Mwape simply summed it up: “We didn’t play well. It wasn’t our day.”

Lupopo coach Lazare Milosevic was delighted with his team’s qualification to the penultimate round. He praised his side’s resilience and tactical discipline.

“We did well. We knew it would not be easy coming to play here. But we held our positions well and capitalised on the flaws of Rangers. Now we look to the next round,” Milosevic said.