A 2-0 win in the Rangers CAF Champions League Second Preliminary Round tie against MC Algiers was a beautiful climax in an afternoon already going south.
Nigeria’s Rangers International produced a determined performance to defeat Algeria’s MC Alger 2-0 despite playing much of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Second Preliminary Round first-leg encounter with ten men in Abeokuta on Sunday.
Rangers Intl played through adversity in Abeokuta, starting with the away fans having more presence at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
The early red card to goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh and Falolu Azeez’s leg fracture, but they kept going and didn’t lose their shape or style.
The early setback in the 13th minute at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex forced coach Fidelis Ilechukwu to reorganise his team.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts resisted MC Alger’s attempts to take control, with neither side managing to score before half-time.
Two late goals, including an 83rd-minute penalty and an 87th-minute strike from James Emo, handed the Nigerian champions a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg in Algeria on 23 October.
The visitors were also reduced to ten men in the 52nd minute when their number 23 received a red card, although the dismissal caused a temporary delay.
An MC Alger official subsequently received a red card from the technical area in the 70th minute as tensions increased.
Rangers finally broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute before Emo doubled their lead four minutes later.
The victory leaves the Nigerian club needing to protect their two-goal advantage in Algeria to secure qualification for the group stage.
“You have to always plan for surprises…they came to play out a draw in this game…” Fidelis Ilechukwu
speaks about his team’s performance against MC Algers
