Rangers Crash Out of CAF Champions League After 3-0 Defeat to MC Alger
Nigerian champions Rangers International of Enugu have been knocked out of the CAF Champions League after losing 3-0 to Algeria’s MC Alger on Friday in Algiers.
The defeat gave Rangers a 3-2 aggregate loss, despite their 2-0 victory in the first leg played in Abeokuta last weekend.
Rangers failed to protect their two-goal advantage as MC Alger scored three goals in the second half to secure a place in the group stage.
Both teams played out a goalless first half at the Ali La Pointe Stadium, with MC Alger needing three goals to turn the tie around.
The Algerian side took the lead in the 58th minute through Chahreddine Boukholda, giving the home fans hope of a comeback.
With six minutes left in regular time, Guinean forward Mohamed Bangoura scored the second goal to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate.
Just when the match appeared to be heading for a penalty shootout, Soufiane Bayazid scored in the third minute of stoppage time to complete MC Alger’s comeback.
The goal secured a 3-0 victory on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win for the Algerian side.
The result ends Rangers’ hopes of reaching the CAF Champions League group stage, while MC Alger will continue their campaign as they target a second continental title, 50 years after winning their first in 1976.
