AFCON 2025
Nigerian champions Enugu Rangers International have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after a heartbreaking 3-0 defeat to Algeria’s MC Alger in the second leg of their second preliminary round tie on Friday night.
The Flying Antelopes, who held a 2-0 first-leg advantage from last weekend’s win in Abeokuta, lost 3-2 on aggregate and failed to reach the group stage. MC Alger scored three unanswered goals at the Ali La Pointe Stadium (also referred to as Stade Ali Ammar) in Algiers to overturn the deficit and secure qualification.
The hosts took the lead in the 58th minute through Chahreddine Boukholda. Rangers goalkeeper Destiny Abuchi produced a crucial penalty save from Mohamed Bangoura around the 70th minute to keep the aggregate lead intact at that stage. However, Bangoura redeemed himself in the 84th minute to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate. Deep into stoppage time, Soufiane Bayazid struck to complete the comeback and seal a 3-0 win on the night.
Rangers had earned their first-leg cushion with late goals from Kenneth Igboke (penalty) and James Emo in Abeokuta, despite both teams finishing with 10 men. The result ends the Nigerian side’s continental campaign at the preliminary stage once again.
The outcome carries strong historical echoes. In the 1976 African Cup of Champions Clubs (the predecessor to the modern CAF Champions League), Rangers also won the first leg 2-0 against MC Alger before suffering a 3-0 reverse in Algiers and exiting 3-2 on aggregate. MC Alger went on to win the title that year and will now chase a second continental crown 50 years later.
The defeat leaves Nigeria without a representative in the CAF Champions League group stage this season. Rangers will now turn their focus back to domestic duties in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
