Rangers crash after second leg defeat to MC Alger

Nigerian champions Rangers have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League following a 3-0 defeat to MC Alger in the second leg of the second preliminary round on Friday night.

MC Alger advanced to the next round with a 3-2 aggregate victory, nullifying Rangers’ 2-0 lead from the first leg.

Rangers put in a resilient performance in the first half, with goalkeeper Destiny Abuchi making two crucial saves to keep the hosts at bay.

However, Chahreddine Boukholda broke the deadlock two minutes before the hour to give MC Alger hope of completing the comeback.

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Abuchi kept Rangers ahead on aggregate in the 70th minute when he saved a Mohamed Bangoura penalty.

Bangoura finally made amends with six minutes remaining, finding the back of the net with a fine finish to draw level with MC Alger on aggregate.

Soufiane Bayazid then sealed the spectacular comeback with a goal in injury time, sending the Algerian team at Rangers’ expense.

The elimination of Rangers leaves Nigeria without a representative in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, following the previous elimination of Rivers United in the first preliminary round.

By Adeboye Amosu