MC Alger supporters accused of stadium damage as Enugu Rangers appeal to CAF

Enugu Rangers have reported MC Alger to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after visiting supporters were accused of forcing entry into the MKO-Abiola Stadium and confronting the Algerian club’s staff following a 2-0 defeat in Nigeria.

The incident took place in Abeokuta on Sunday, after the first leg of the CAF Champions League play-off. Several hundred MC Alger fans, known as the “Chnaoua”, had travelled to support their team.

Nigerian media reported that some supporters surrounded the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms and confronted MC Alger head coach Khaled Ben Yahia. Security personnel intervened to protect and escort the Tunisian manager from the stadium.

Some fans allegedly told Ben Yahia not to return to Algiers, while a member of his coaching staff was also reportedly assaulted.

The anger followed a disappointing result for MC Alger, particularly because Enugu Rangers played much of the match with 10 men. The Nigerian side scored twice within three minutes late in the game, leaving MC Alger needing a significant comeback in the second leg to reach the group stage.

Enugu Rangers say the disturbances extended beyond the confrontation with the Algerian technical staff. In a complaint submitted to CAF, the Nigerian club accused visiting supporters of forcing open a stadium gate, entering without paying admission and damaging several seats.

The club said it had sent photographs and videos of the alleged incidents to CAF. Rangers are seeking an investigation, compensation for lost ticket revenue and security guarantees before the return match in Algiers.

According to Nigerian media, Enugu Rangers have also asked CAF to consider ordering the second leg to be played behind closed doors.

The supporters’ frustration does not justify the alleged behaviour, which could have consequences for MC Alger both financially and competitively. The Algerian side will need strong home support to overturn a two-goal deficit, but the club could instead face sanctions and the loss of some of that advantage.

The latest unrest comes during an already difficult period for MC Alger. The club have won three successive Algerian league titles but have struggled to reproduce that domestic dominance in African competition.

They reached the quarter-finals in 2025 before being eliminated in the group stage in 2026. They now face the possibility of exiting before reaching the main stage, a disappointing contrast with USM Alger, who won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2023.

Supporters had already expressed dissatisfaction during the summer transfer window, contributing to the departure of Hakim Hadj Redjem. The former official had previously been involved in a period of serious tension with fans over the Youcef Belaili situation in 2024.

Mohamed Arabi Yaakoubi replaced Hadj Redjem as president, while Amer Mensoul and Faycal Badji joined the club’s new sporting structure. The reorganisation has not yet restored calm, and the return leg will be important not only on the pitch but also in preventing the institutional and popular crisis from escalating further.