CAF Club Competitions: Late goals send Rangers, El-Kanemi crashing out

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Nigerian clubs Rangers International and El-Kanemi Warriors suffered painful exits from continental competition on Friday after late goals overturned their hopes of progressing against Algeria’s MC Alger and Morocco’s Raja Club Athletic, respectively.

Rangers surrendered a two-goal first-leg advantage to lose 3-0 in Algiers, crashing out of the CAF Champions League 3-2 on aggregate, while El-Kanemi Warriors conceded twice late in Casablanca to suffer a 4-2 aggregate defeat in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Both Nigerian sides had given themselves promising opportunities to advance after their first-leg results, but their continental campaigns ended in frustration as their North African opponents produced decisive performances when it mattered most.

Rangers’ hopes of reaching the CAF Champions League group stage were shattered after MC Alger scored three second-half goals to overturn the Nigerian champions’ first-leg advantage and secure a dramatic qualification victory.

The Flying Antelopes travelled to Algeria with a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Abeokuta, where they had demonstrated remarkable resilience despite playing with 10 men for most of the encounter following goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh’s dismissal in the 13th minute.

Kenneth Igboke converted a penalty before James Emo struck late to give Rangers a significant advantage heading into the return fixture.

However, the Nigerian champions could not reproduce that defensive resistance in Algiers, where MC Alger gradually turned the contest around to keep their continental ambitions alive.

Chahreddine Boukholda reignited the hosts’ hopes in the 58th minute, cutting Rangers’ aggregate lead to 2-1 and giving the Algerian side the belief that a comeback was possible.

With the pressure mounting, Mohamed Bangoura struck in the 84th minute to restore parity on aggregate, leaving Rangers desperately trying to hold on as the tie edged towards a possible penalty shootout.

But the visitors’ resistance finally collapsed in stoppage time when Soufiane Bayazid found the net in the 92nd minute, completing MC Alger’s remarkable turnaround and sending the Nigerian champions out of the competition.

For Rangers, the defeat represents a bitter disappointment after putting themselves in a strong position to progress. Having secured a two-goal advantage in the first leg, the Enugu club needed to protect that lead but were unable to withstand the late pressure from their opponents.

The elimination also revives memories of a painful chapter in Rangers’ continental history. In 1976, the Nigerian club suffered a similar setback against MC Alger, losing the return leg 3-0 after winning the first encounter 2-0. MC Alger subsequently went on to claim the continental title.

Rangers must now redirect their attention to domestic football following their Champions League disappointment, while MC Alger advance to the next stage with their ambitions of another continental triumph intact.

El-Kanemi Warriors also suffered a heartbreaking continental exit after two late goals handed Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic a 2-0 victory in Casablanca, sealing a 4-2 aggregate triumph for the hosts in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Nigerian side had entered the return leg with renewed confidence after holding Raja to a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Ikenne. With the tie delicately poised, El-Kanemi knew that a goalless draw would be enough to secure their place in the group stage.

For much of the encounter, the Nigerian representatives remained disciplined and frustrated their more experienced opponents, keeping Raja at bay as the hosts searched for the breakthrough that would swing the tie in their favour.

However, El-Kanemi’s defensive resistance was finally broken in the 88th minute when Aymen Barkok stepped up to convert a superb free-kick, giving Raja the lead on the night and shifting the aggregate scoreline to 3-2 in favour of the Moroccan club.

The goal left El-Kanemi facing an uphill task in the closing stages, with their hopes of forcing the tie back in their favour fading as Raja pushed forward to secure qualification.

Portuguese defender Marian Huja then delivered the decisive blow in the fifth minute of stoppage time, finding the net to make it 2-0 and complete Raja’s 4-2 aggregate victory.

The late double proved devastating for El-Kanemi, who had held their own for much of the contest but could not withstand Raja’s pressure in the closing moments.

For the Nigerian side, the defeat brings an end to their hopes of reaching the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Their first-leg draw had kept the tie finely balanced, but they were unable to produce the performance required to finish the job in Morocco.

Raja, meanwhile, have secured their place in the group stage as they continue their pursuit of a third Confederation Cup title. The Moroccan club, two-time winners of the competition, will now turn their attention to the next phase of their continental campaign.

El-Kanemi Warriors must return their focus to domestic football after missing out on qualification, joining Rangers in an unfortunate evening for Nigerian club football on the continental stage.

The exits of Rangers and El-Kanemi Warriors underline the challenge facing Nigerian clubs when competing against experienced North African opposition over two legs.

Both teams travelled for their respective return fixtures with realistic hopes of progressing, having secured results in the first legs that kept qualification within reach. Yet late goals proved decisive, turning promising positions into painful eliminations.

Rangers’ collapse in Algiers was particularly damaging, given their two-goal advantage, while El-Kanemi’s resistance in Casablanca lasted until the closing stages before Raja struck twice to settle the contest.

With both continental campaigns now over, the Nigerian sides must regroup and focus on their domestic commitments, while MC Alger and Raja Club Athletic move forward in their respective competitions.

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