Ten-man Rangers beat MC Alger 2-0, fifty years on
Enugu Rangers repeated their 1976 scoreline against the Algerian giants, then took a row over crowd trouble to CAF.
By SitesNG Sports Desk · · 2 min read
Enugu Rangers did it the hard way. Down to ten men after only 13 minutes, the Flying Antelopes beat Algeria's MC Alger 2-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta, on Sunday 18 October 2026.
Goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh was sent off early, and MC Alger later lost Oussama Benhaoua to a second yellow card. It was goalless at half-time. In the last ten minutes Kenneth Igboke scored from the penalty spot and James Emo added the second.
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History repeats, so far
The score was an exact echo of 24 October 1976, when Rangers beat MC Alger 2-0 in the first leg of the African Cup of Champions Clubs semi-final. That time MC Alger won the return 3-0 and went on to lift the trophy, so nobody in Enugu is celebrating yet.
“We shouldn't concede here.”
Rangers captain Chidiebere Nwobodo, on the return leg
A row over the crowd
Rangers petitioned CAF on 19 October over a damaged gate, broken seats and an alleged assault on an Algerian assistant coach; MC Alger denied the claims. On 22 October CAF cleared MC Alger to admit their own fans to the return leg and said it would rule on the complaint after the match.
In the Confederation Cup, El-Kanemi Warriors drew 2-2 with Raja Casablanca in Ikenne. Read more about the club on our Enugu Rangers page.
Reporting by the SitesNG Sports Desk, based on reports from CAF, Afrik-Foot, Sports Village Square, Flashscore, Blueprint. Published 22 October 2026 in the African Sports News weekly edition of 23 October 2026.
