Madar (Algiers) - MC Alger have rejected Nigerian club Rangers International's accusations that their supporters vandalised seats at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, saying in a statement published on Monday, 19 October 2026 that they have evidence the seats were already damaged before kick-off of the first leg, according to La Gazette du Fennec and Dailysports.
The Algerian club disputed refereeing decisions it says distorted the 2-0 defeat, including a late penalty awarded to the hosts without a foul to justify it and a second yellow card shown to Oussama Benhaoua, which it says should have gone to Ayoub Ghezala. It called the decision "deliberate" against a player already booked.
MC Alger also complained of repeated harassment of its delegation in the VIP stand, of its official cameraman being forced to change angles during the live broadcast, and of a 20-dollar ticket price for its fans it called excessive. It pledged to pursue all regulatory avenues and urged supporters to stay calm.
Madar reported earlier that Rangers had petitioned CAF to have the return leg played behind closed doors. CAF has not announced a decision on either complaint.
CAF has appointed a Lesotho refereeing team led by Retselisitsoe Molise for the return leg on Friday, 23 October at the Ali Ammar (Ali La Pointe) Stadium in Douéra, kicking off at 19:00 GMT, with Egypt's Hisham Salaheldin Mostafa as match commissioner and Uganda's Dixon Okello as security officer, Dailysports reported.
