• Ezeaku: ‘MC Alger’s 40,000 fans no problem’

Enugu Rangers’ officials have assured Nigerians that the Flying Antelopes are psychologically prepared for whatever MC Alger will throw at them when they meet in the decisive second leg of their CAF Champions League group stage qualifier today.

Rangers won the first leg in Abeokuta 2-0 and need to concede less than that to make the groupo stage of the CAF Champions League.

The team arrived in Algiers on Monday to begin preparation for the game, which they have vowed to lay their lives, if necessary, to get the desired result.

But reports from Algeria have warned the Nigerians to be ready for all manner of “troubles” when they file out against MC Alger.

Yesterday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) threw out Rangers’ behind closed doors without the fans following reports of a fiercely charged atmosphere in and around the stadium..

Tickets for the decisive encounter at the 40,000-capacity Ali La Pointe Stadium in Douéra were reportedly sold out in less than an hour, underlining the scale of anticipation among MC Alger supporters ahead of their team’s attempt to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit.

CAF’s rejection of Rangers’ request means that the Nigerians are in for a hostile atmosphere in Algiers.

The match will start by 8.00 p.m. with the 40,000 crowd baying for Rangers’ blood. But Enugu Rangers’ General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, says that the team is not disturbed by whatever the crowd does outside the pitch.
He said: “We came to Algeria early to get used to the weather conditions and the environment.

“The game will be decided on the pitch by the players and not by whatever happens outside it. We are prepared and ready to go.”

CAF has responded to Rangers’ security concerns by appointing Ugandan security expert Dixon Okello as security officer for the encounter.

The governing body also named Egypt’s Hisham Salaheldin Mostafa as match commissioner, Lesotho’s David Molise as referee and Togo’s Koku Ognankotan Ntale as referee assessor.

The appointments underline the importance of security and match management ahead of the fixture, although they do not resolve the underlying dispute between the clubs.

There were reports yesterday that MC Alger held a meeting on Wednesday involving captain Ayoub Abdelouali and head coach Khaled Ben Yahia, with the players reportedly pledging to produce a comeback and win by at least three goals.

The Algerian side will be without suspended defender Oussama Benhaoua and injured captain Ayoub Abdellaoui, but midfielder Mohamed Benkhemassa and forward Ben Ahmed Kohili are available again.

This game has a historical precedent with MC Alger the winning side in 1976.

Just like today’s game, Enugu Rangers went to the decisive leg in Algiers in 1976 with a 2-0 advantage. But the Algerian club overturned the first-leg deficit in the semifinals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, winning 3-0 in Algiers before going on to claim the title.

However, Rangers’ Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, says that thunder cannot strike twice on same spot.

He said that the challenge he faces is to ensure that his team remain disciplined and composed under pressure while resisting the temptation to defend too deep for the entire match.

He said that Rangers will work to balance defensive organisation with the need to threaten on the counter-attack, knowing that an away goal would increase the pressure on the hosts.