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Nigerian champions Rangers International of Enugu have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after suffering a painful 3-0 defeat to Algeria’s MC Alger on Friday.
The result gave MC Alger a 3-2 aggregate victory, overturning Rangers’ 2-0 advantage from the first leg played in Abeokuta last weekend.
Rangers, popularly known as the Flying Antelopes, appeared poised to advance to the group stage but collapsed in the closing stages as the Algerians scored three unanswered goals.
After a goalless first half, MC Alger intensified their attack in search of the goals needed to overturn the deficit.
Their comeback began in the 58th minute when Chahreddine Boukholda found the net to give the hosts the lead and revive hopes of qualification.
With six minutes remaining in regulation time, Guinean forward Mohamed Bangoura scored the second goal, drawing MC Alger level at 2-2 on aggregate.
Just when the contest appeared destined for a penalty shootout, Soufiane Bayazid struck three minutes into stoppage time to complete the comeback and send Rangers out of the competition.
The victory secured MC Alger’s place in the group stage, while Rangers’ continental campaign ended in disappointment after failing to protect their first-leg advantage.
MC Alger will now continue their pursuit of a second continental title, having last won the competition in 1976.
