CAF CL: Angry Algerian Fans Went Berserk, Assault Coach, Vandalize Stadium Facilities After Losing 2-Nil To Rangers
ABEOKUTA – Enugu Rangers took an important step toward qualifying for the group stage of the CAF Champions League on Sunday afternoon, beating MC Alger in the first leg of the final round of qualification.
In a thrilling encounter played at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Rangers struck twice late on Sunday to put themselves in a promising position ahead of the return leg in Algiers on October 23.
The Nigerian Champions will travel to the Ali La Ponte Stadium in Algiers knowing that their two-goal cushion offers no guarantee of progression, lespecially against an opponent who overturned the same deficit 50years ago.
Recall that in 1976, Rangers also won the first leg 2-0 played on October 24, only to suffer a stunning reversal in the return leg on November 11, 3-0 to advance MC Algiers 3-2 on aggregate and subsequently went on to lift the continental title.
Rangers hosted the Algerian side about 50 years after they overturned the Flying Antelopes’ two-goal lead to reach the final of the 1976 African Cup of Champions Clubs before eventually winning the title against Guinea’s Haifa FC on penalties.
It was a fiery affair that saw both teams pick up red cards on the pitch, while an official of the Algerian team got his marching orders in a keenly contested match.
Super Eagles left-back Kenneth Igboke scored from the penalty spot in the 81st minute, while James Emo found the back of the net a few minutes later to help the “home side” to a 2-0 win ahead of the second leg.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side will look to avoid what happened in 1976, when ahead of the second leg in Algiers, as they look to reach the group stage of the new CAF Champions League format for the first time.
However, the over 400 irate Algerian fans lost their temper after the centre referee signalled the final whistles, destroying the chairs at the cover stand.
The angry fans who followed the team to the tunnel, descended heavily on one of their Assistant coaches before the Nigerian Police attached to the team rescued him from further beating.
The situation was the same in the VVIP state box, where Nigerian legend, Victor Ikpeba was attacked by officials of the Algerian side in an attempt to exchange pleasantries afte the final whistle. This ugly development brought the stadium to a standstill as the security operatives immediately lockdown the stadium to prevent any further attacks.
