Rangers Petition CAF After MC Alger Fans Vandalize Abeokuta Stadium

By Samuel Akpan

Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Rangers International, have lodged a formal complaint with CAF following reported vandalism by MC Alger supporters in Abeokuta during Sunday’s Champions League preliminary match.

Speaking anonymously to PerSecondNews in Abuja on Monday, a club official revealed that visiting fans exhibited unruly behaviour both before and after the final whistle, damaging stadium facilities and destroying seating area equipment.

“This is unacceptable how do you destroy the entrance gate so you can gain access to the stadium for free, hence the petition,” the official declared, as Rangers alleged the supporters smashed a stadium entrance gate, sneaked in without paying gate fees, and vandalised seats during and after the match.

The Flying Antelopes have requested urgent CAF intervention and precautionary measures ahead of Friday’s return leg in Algiers, seeking to prevent any recurrence of the unruly behaviour.

On the pitch, Rangers recovered from an early setback to defeat MC Alger 2-0.

Goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh was sent off after just 13 minutes for rushing off his line to challenge Naidji following Ferhat’s long pass.

He failed to make contact, sparking protests that earned the visitors two yellow cards.

Following early drama, Rangers brought on keeper Lateef Ishola for Waheed Adebayo, before Falolu was forced off injured by a bookable challenge from Bangoura, making way for Temitope Folarin.

Despite playing with 10 men, Rangers pushed back.

Kenneth Igboke’s long throws and overlaps on the left posed a threat, while Chidozie Iwundu, Mgbemena, Nwobodo, and Folarin all threatened the MC Alger goal before half-time.

Head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu introduced James Emo and Mgbemena for the second period.

The numbers were evened shortly after when MC Alger’s Benhaoua picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Nwobodo, leaving both teams with 10 players.

Rangers created further chances through Igwilo and Emo, including an offside goal.

Igwilo was then fouled in the box, allowing Igboke to calmly convert the penalty, before Emo sealed the win with a ruthless 86th-minute finish from a rapid counter-attack.