- Flying Antelopes lose 0-3 to crash out 2-3 on aggregate
Enugu Rangers’ dream of a historic breakthrough in continental football dissolved into the Algerian night late on Friday as the team suffered a heartbreaking collapse against MC Alger, crashing out of the CAF Champions League just steps away from their first-ever group stage appearance.
Carrying a seemingly comfortable two-goal advantage into Friday’s second-leg preliminary clash, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men looked primed to rewrite the club’s history books. Instead, the Flying Antelopes were hit by a second-half blitz in Algiers, as the hosts overturned the deficit with three unanswered goals to steal a 3-2 aggregate victory.
MC Alger found the breakthrough on 58 minutes through Chahreddine Boukholda’s finish at the back post following a perfectly-timed run. Guinean import Mohamed Bangoura had the opportunity to double the lead from the penalty spot, but his spotkick was saved by Abuchi Okeke, the Rangers goalkeeper.
However, there was nothing Keeper Okeke could do six minutes from time as the Guinean international buried a clinical strike from just six yards out to level the tie and ignite the late-game chaos. Then came the ultimate heartbreak: two minutes into stoppage time, Sofiane Bayazid glanced a corner kick past the near post to complete a stunning turnaround and shatter Rangers’ continental dreams.
With the Flying Antelopes’ exit, Nigeria is left completely unrepresented in the group stage this season. For Rangers, the bitter defeat preserves a haunting club record—their historic wait to reach the group stage goes on.
