Rangers Exit CAF Champions League After 3-0 Loss to MC Alger

Rangers International were eliminated from the CAF Champions League on Friday, October 23, 2026, after losing 3-0 to MC Alger in Algiers. MC Alger won the second preliminary round tie 3-2 on aggregate and took the place in the group stage.

Rangers had won the first leg 2-0 in Abeokuta, Nigeria, on October 18, 2026. They carried a two-goal lead into the return leg at the Ali La Pointe Stadium in Algiers and failed to protect it. The Confederation of African Football, known as CAF, confirmed the result in its official match report.

A goalless first half, then the opening goal

The first half finished goalless. Rangers held their aggregate lead through the break and for the first part of the second half.

Chahreddine Boukholda opened the scoring for MC Alger in the 58th minute. The goal cut Rangers' aggregate lead to 2-1 and changed the tie. MC Alger now needed one more goal to level the tie, while Rangers needed to hold out or score to restore their cushion.

Two late goals complete the comeback

Mohamed Bangoura scored in the 84th minute to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate. With six minutes of normal time left, the match stood level over the two legs.

The deciding goal came three minutes into added time. Soufiane Bayazid scored to make it 3-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Reports of the match said the tie had appeared to be heading for a penalty shootout before Bayazid scored.

The final score in the second leg was MC Alger 3, Rangers International 0. The scorers were Boukholda in the 58th minute, Bangoura in the 84th minute and Bayazid in the third minute of added time.

How the first leg had set up the tie

Rangers built their lead in the first leg on October 18. Kenneth Igboke scored a penalty and James Emo added the second goal, according to the club account reported after the match.

That first leg was played with both sides reduced to 10 players. Rangers goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh was sent off early and MC Alger defender Benhaoua was also dismissed, leaving both teams with 10 players before Rangers scored.

The 2-0 result in Abeokuta gave Rangers a clear advantage. The return leg reversed it in full, with all three MC Alger goals coming in the second half.

What the result means

The result ended Rangers' attempt to reach the 16-team group stage. MC Alger progressed to the 2026-27 group stage instead.

MC Alger were African champions in 1976. The club took the qualifying place from this tie and is targeting a second continental title, 50 years after its first.

Before the return leg, Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu had said: "We will do everything we can to get a good result." His team held the lead for more than half of the second leg, then conceded three times and went out.