Nigeria’s CAF Champions League account further dwindled recently in Algiers with the ouster of Enugu Rangers by MC Alger in the second round of the 2026/2027 edition. The import is that teams from the NPFL will struggle to get two spots in subsequent campaigns.

The country’s other representative, Rivers United, had earlier been eliminated by Ivorian side, Sam Pedro. The Port Harcourt team managed to keep hope alive with group stage appearance in the past.

Rangers’ dismal outing has further diminished that light. Losing to MC Alger 3-0 at away after a 2-0 first leg advantage earned at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta which served as Rangers temporary home, said so much about the capacity of the Coal City Boys. With 32 minutes left to play, they were still ahead with the first leg 2-0 advantage. The hosts found the net in the 58th minute.

Twenty minutes to full time, MC Alger were awarded a penalty. Rangers’ keeper, Abuchi Okeke, who came in as a substitute in Abeokuta after the first choice was sent off, stood as Mohammed Bangoura missed. A group stage appearance was beckoning and Rangers only needed to keep pushing. Seven minutes to time, the hosts scored a second goal.

Then disaster happened in added time when the winning goal came. It ended 3-0, to the chagrin of Nigerians and Rangers fans worldwide. That was like a repeat of 1976 when both teams met in the semi-finals. Rangers had won the first leg 2-0 in Nigeria but were eliminated in Algiers after falling 3-0.

Then, the Algerians were known as Mouloudia Chaabia. The debutants advanced to win a first continental trophy for their country with a 3-1 penalty victory over defending champions Hafia of Guinea. Perhaps, Nigerian clubs need to be reminded of the past as part of their training. History has a way of repeating itself.

Winning 2-0 in Abeokuta should have meant going to Algiers with the fighting spirit of real combatants, carrying at the back of their minds the elimination of 1976. And because Rangers failed to learn, they repeated history. In 1976, keeper Emma Okala saved a penalty. In 2026, MC Oran lost another penalty, with Abuchi Okeke in goal for the visitors. The first two letters in Okala and Okeke, are the same – Ok! Mohammed Bangoura lost the penalty kick.

In 1976, the first penalty kick in the Algiers second leg final for Hafia was lost by a Bangoura. It is fifty years from 1976 to 2026. The Flying Antelopes lost to Mouloudia because they were neither prepared for the biting cold nor the turf. The match was decided on a synthetic pitch and the homers must have laughed at the guests who did not have matching boots for the slippery ground.

One player who saw it just as Rangers went to have a feel was Dr. John Egbuonu. He knew because of exposure to Europe. The effect on right winger, Emma Merenini was devastating. It was only his first trip outside Nigeria after leaving Holy Ghost College, Owerri in June 1976. The Rangers of 2026 cannot give excuses. In 1976, it was the first time a Nigerian football club would play in Algeria. The weather was an issue.

Rangers have themselves to blame for the poor show in Algiers. It has nothing to do with the Nigerian economy or poor motivation by the Enugu State Government

Players that could not hold on to advantage seven minutes to time will have themselves to blame for disappointing their fans and diminishing Nigerian football. We will continue to harp on history. Someone needed to drum it into the ears of the Flying Antelopes that a goalless first half was not enough to win the game. In 1988, Iwuanyanwu Nationale held Entente Sportif to a barren first stanza.

In the second, they were bombed 4-0. Iwuanyanwu could blame the loss on their officials and referee Sene Badara of Senegal. The players were taken to warm Egypt en route chilly Constantine. It was in Egypt that Chief Sebastien Williams ordered synthetic boots that many of the players would wear for the first time. Friday Ekpo and Coach Dmitris Theophanis were shown red cards. There was nothing to fear about Algerian soil, if the boys had been well briefed.

In 1982, Rangers defeated RS Kouba 2-1 to advance on 7-3 aggregate scores. In 2017, they relied on away goals rule to eliminate JS Saura. It ended 1-1. Nigerian clubs did not always fall in North Africa. Enyimba drew 1-1 with USMA of Algeria on the way to CAF Champions League glory in 2003. Long before that, in 1984, Shooting Stars got the same result in Fez against MAS. In 2009, Kano Pillars and Ahly shared the spoils, 2-2, in Cairo. Heartland and FAR Maroc ended it 1-1, same year.

In 2011, Enyimba and Raja played out 0-0 in Casablanca. Rangers have themselves to blame for the poor show in Algiers. It has nothing to do with the Nigerian economy or poor motivation by the Enugu State Government. A team that scored in Abeokuta with 10 men should have also been able to score in Algiers with 11 players.

Heroes are made when the impossible turns to possible. The MC Algers team that went down 2-0 in Abeokuta could have been beaten or held to a draw at home. They were under pressure, especially after their rabid fans attacked coach Khalid Ben Yahia. Rangers failed to learn from history. Now many hearts are broken.