It was a Friday night to forget for Nigeria clubs playing on the continent after both Rangers and El-Kanemi Warriors were both eliminated from the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.
Taking a 2-0 lead from the first leg played in Abeokuta last weekend, Nigeria Premier Football League champion, Enugu Rangers, was confident of making the group stage ahead of their opponent, MC Algiers, but a 3-0 loss at the Ali La Pointe Stadium in Algiers, put paid to their ambition, exiting the tournament 3-2 on aggregate.
After a goalless first half, MC Alger needed three goals in the remaining 45 minutes to overturn the deficit and keep their campaign alive.
The comeback began in the 58th minute when Chahreddine Boukholda put the hosts ahead, raising hopes among their supporters.
With six minutes left in regulation time, Guinean forward Mohamed Bangoura scored MC Alger’s second goal to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate, sparking celebrations in the stands.
As the match appeared to be heading for a penalty shootout, Soufiane Bayazid struck three minutes into stoppage time to complete MC Alger’s comeback and seal a 3-0 win on the night and a 3-2 aggregate victory.
It was the same story for Federation Cup winners, El-Kanemi Warriors, in the Confederation Cup after losing 2-0 and 4-2 on aggregate against Raja Casablanca in Morocco.
The first leg played in Nigeria ended 2-2 but Raja proved too strong over the two legs ending the Nigeria side hope of a group stage qualification with a 4-2 aggregate win.
The results put an end to Nigeria participation on the continent with Rivers United and Shooting Stars already eliminated.
