CAF CL: MCA secures qualification firmly (video)

After the goalless draw in Niger during the first leg, MC Alger could not afford to make mistakes on home soil. Khaled Benyahia's men were tasked with making a quick difference and confirming their status as favorites in this two-legged tie. In front of their fans, the Red and Greens delivered a complete performance, both in terms of play and effectiveness.

From the opening minutes, the Mouloudia took control of the match. The Algiers side seized the ball, applied sustained pressure, and prevented Nigelec from developing their game. This dominance could have translated into a goal as early as the 5th minute when Helaimia found Kohili in a favorable position, but the Algerian player's attempt was saved by the Nigerien goalkeeper.

The MCA continued to press and logically opened the scoring. In the 18th minute, Konaté capitalized on a hesitation in the opposing defense to recover the ball and fire it into the net. This goal rewarded the hosts' strong start and particularly relieved them after the frustrating result of the first leg.

However, Benyahia's men were not satisfied with this lead. They maintained the pressure and created another clear opportunity in the 28th minute. From a free kick about twenty meters out, Helaimia forced Boukari to stretch and deflect the ball. Despite several good chances, the score remained unchanged until halftime.

Upon resumption, the MCA increased the tempo. Benhaoua notably missed two opportunities, while Bangoura attempted an acrobatic overhead kick before seeing his latest effort saved by the opposing goalkeeper.

The reward finally came in the 69th minute. From a cross by Mossi, Hachimou inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net, allowing Mouloudia to extend their lead.

From that moment on, the Nigerians completely collapsed. Bangoura scored the third goal in the 77th minute, before Boukholda joined the celebration moments later. Mossi ultimately capped off the offensive festival with a fifth goal.

Winning 5-0, MC Alger confidently secured their qualification for the next round, where they will now face a much tougher challenge against Nigeria's Enugu Rangers.

DZfoot