Mouloudia Club of Algiers have criticised the refereeing and alleged mistreatment of their delegation following their 2-0 defeat to Enugu Rangers in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary-round tie in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, October 19, the Algerian champions questioned the penalty awarded to Rangers and the dismissal of defender Oussama Benhaoua during Sunday’s encounter at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
MC Alger argued that the spot-kick converted by Kenneth Igboke was not justified by a foul, disputing the decision that helped the Nigerian side take the lead late in the match.
The club also challenged Benhaoua’s second yellow card, claiming that the foul leading to his dismissal was committed by teammate Ayoub Ghezala rather than the defender.
Rangers capitalised on their numerical advantage after Benhaoua’s dismissal, with Igboke scoring from the penalty spot before James Emo added a second goal three minutes later to secure a 2-0 victory. Rangers had themselves played much of the match with 10 men following goalkeeper Lucky Jimoh’s early red card.
Beyond the match officials’ decisions, MC Alger raised concerns about the treatment of its travelling delegation, alleging repeated harassment of members seated in the VIP stand.
The club also claimed that the cameraman operating its official YouTube channel was instructed to change camera angles several times during the live broadcast.
MC Alger further rejected allegations that its supporters damaged stadium seats, insisting that it possessed evidence that some seats were already damaged before kick-off.
The Algerian side also questioned the reported $20 ticket price for its travelling supporters, describing the cost as excessive compared with prices at other African venues where it has played in continental competition.
The complaints come amid competing accounts of the incidents surrounding the match. Rangers have separately petitioned the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alleging that visiting supporters damaged stadium facilities and engaged in disorderly conduct during and after the game.
MC Alger’s allegations have not been independently established in the information currently available. The dispute adds an off-field dimension to the tie, with Rangers carrying a two-goal advantage into the return leg scheduled for October 23 in Algiers.
