Nigerian champions Rangers have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League following a 3-0 defeat to MC Alger in the second leg of their second preliminary round tie on Friday night.

MC Alger progressed to the next round with a 3-2 aggregate victory, overturning Rangers’ 2-0 advantage from the first leg.

Rangers put up a resilient performance in the first half, with goalkeeper Destiny Abuchi making two crucial saves to keep the hosts at bay.

However, Chahreddine Boukholda broke the deadlock two minutes before the hour mark to give MC Alger hope of completing the comeback.

Abuchi kept Rangers ahead on aggregate in the 70th minute when he saved a penalty from Mohamed Bangoura.

Bangoura eventually made amends six minutes from time, finding the back of the net with a fine finish to draw MC Alger level on aggregate.

Soufiane Bayazid then sealed the dramatic comeback with a stoppage-time goal, sending the Algerian side through at Rangers’ expense.

Rangers’ elimination leaves Nigeria without a representative in the CAF Champions League group phase , following the earlier exit of Rivers United in the first preliminary round.

By Adeboye Amosu

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