Despite being the champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Rangers International will have to start their campaign in the Champions League from the preliminary round.
The Flying Antelope wrestled the title from Enyimba International with a game to spare thereby qualifying for the Champions League alongside Remo Stars who finished second.
The football body in Africa on Tuesday listed the clubs who will be exempted from the preliminary round and Rangers and Remo Stars names were missing.
The clubs listed to avoid the earlier round are defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt, Mamelodi Sundown of South Africa, ES Tunis, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, and Petro De Luanda of Angola.
Meanwhile, the draw for the competition is slated to be held on Thursday in Cario, Egypt.
