The supporters of MC Alger on Sunday declared their coach, Khaled Ben Yahya, persona non grata and threatened that he should remain in Nigeria following the club’s 2-0 loss to Rangers Football Club in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League in Abeokuta.
Penpushing reports that over 200 supporters, some wearing face masks, became violent after the defeat, and they laid siege to the coach with plans to attack him but were prevented by security operatives from carrying out the threat.
The agitated supporters were seen openly pointing accusing fingers at the coach, declaring him persona non grata, and warning him to stay back in Nigeria and not return to Algiers, or risk being dealt with on arrival.
Penpushing further reports that the embattled coach appeared jittery even under the protection of security operatives at the stadium, as the protesting supporters threatened to deal decisively with him, while the standoff lasted for almost an hour.
The rowdy situation was eventually brought under control through the professionalism of the police, who doused the tension and led the angry protesters back to their buses.
Penpushing also reports that the coach and other officials of the club were later escorted by the police to the changing room within the stadium to wait for some time, and after confirming that the supporters had left the stadium vicinity, the officials were assisted out of the stadium in a convoy led by the police.
The records show that Yahya, a Tunisian, was appointed in March 2026 to replace South African Coach Rulani Mokwena, who left after winning the Algerian Super Cup in January 2026.
Penpushing reports that Yahya signed a contract until June 2027, and it is his second spell at the club, having previously won the league title and Super Cup with them.
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