CAF Confederation Cup
RANGERS RETURN TO NORTH AFRICA
After Rangers elimination of Algeria’s USM Bel Abbes in the opening round of the CAF Confederation, the Nigerian cup holders will still make two more journeys to North Africa as the Group Draw of the competition has pitched the club with two Tunisian sides – Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien.
The fourth team of the group is Salitas of Burkina Faso. They are all in Group B. Just as Group B has two Tunisian clubs, so also Group A which has the same colouration of pitching three clubs from the same countries.
Holders Raja Club Athletic was drawn in the same group with fellows RS Berkane and Hassania Agadir in Group A. The odd team of the group is AS Otoho of Congo.
. The outcome
serves a replica of the 2012 edition of the second-tier continental club
championship when three Sudanese team; Al Merreikh, Al Hilal and Ahly Shendi
were in the same group. The other team was Interclube of Angola.
It was the highlight of the draw held on Monday at the CAF Headquarters in
Cairo, Egypt. Former Cameroon forward Patrick Mboma assisted the draw process conducted
by CAF Deputy General Secretary Anthony Baffoe.
Whilst Group A had three teams from the same country, it was a near similar
situation in Group B and Group C, with two teams from the same countries.
Tunisian duo Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien are in Group B alongside Enugu
Rangers of Nigeria and surprise packets, Salitas, from Burkina Faso.
In Group C, Zambia has two clubs – Nkana and Zesco, with Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
and Hilal (Sudan) the other teams. For Kotoko and Hilal, they have old scores
to settle after being in the same group for the maiden edition of the CAF
Confederation Cup in 2004.
Five-time African champion Zamalek of Egypt leads the line-up in Group B. The
rest are Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, Petro Atletico of Angola and Algeria’s NA
Hussein Dey.
Below are the details of the draw;
Group A – Hassania Agadir
(Morocco), AS Otoho (Congo), RS Berkane (Morocco), Raja (Morocco)
Group B – Etoile du Sahel
(Tunisia), Rangers (Nigeria), Salitas (Burkina Faso), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Group C – Zesco (Zambia), Al
Hilal (Sudan), Asante Kotoko (Ghana), Nkana (Zambia)
Group D – Gor Mahia (Kenya), NA
Hussein Dey (Algeria), Petro Atletico (Angola), Zamalek (Egypt)
CAF Confederation Cup
Renaissance de Berkane are third-time CAF Confederation Cup winners

Moroccan side, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane secured a third continental title after drawing against Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club (2-0 in the first leg, 1-1 in the return).
Moroccan football’s representatives had the privilege of being the first to lift the new CAF trophy.
It is the fifth time they have played the final match of the competition, and they were successful in 2020 and 2022. In the return leg of the final match this Sunday, Berkane overcame challenges put in their way ahead of the match at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The match got off to a flying start, with the hosts dominating, determined to open the scoring in the opening minutes of play. Once again, Berkane retreated into defence, a far cry from the spirit displayed in the first leg.
It took about fifteen minutes for Mouine Chaâbani’s men to truly get into the game.
While they launched their first dangerous attack, a missed opportunity in front of the opposing goal cost them dearly. On the ensuing counterattack, Simba’s Zambian striker, Joshua Mutale, beat goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi in the 17th minute.
The second half resumed with the same intensity, but the tension rose, especially after Simba attacking midfielder Yusuph Kagoma was sent off for a second yellow card.
Berkane then took a numerical advantage and regained control of the game.
Stung to the quick, the home side continued to engage in skirmishes, but without any real threat to goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.
Yet, even with ten men down, Simba’s players gave the Berkanis a hard time, posing several threats.
Deliverance finally came in the 93rd minute thanks to Mamadou Lamine Camara, who scored the equaliser, in a closely contested duel, in a packed stadium, and under the eyes of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, as well as Walid Regragui, national coach.
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CAF Confederation Cup
Berkane’s coach determined to return with CAF Confederation Cup trophy

RS Berkane head coach Moine Chaabani says his side is fully focused and prepared for Sunday’s second leg of the Confederation Cup final against Tanzania’s Simba SC, as they seek to secure a third continental title.
The Moroccan club takes a 2-0 lead into the return leg at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar following an early double from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui in the first leg in Berkane.
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash, Chaabani emphasized that his players have left nothing to chance.
“We are focused on the match, and we must adapt to all circumstances, no matter how difficult,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“We came here to play a 90-minute match, and there is no room for distraction.”
The Tunisian tactician, who led the team to last year’s final only to suffer defeat against Zamalek, underlined the hunger within the squad to go one step further this time.
“We have worked hard since that disappointment, and today we are even more determined to win the title and bring the cup back to Morocco.”
RS Berkane will be boosted by the availability of key players Haitham Manout and Paul Valery, although final decisions on their involvement will be made after the last training session.
“All players are present. The decision on their participation will depend on their readiness,” he added.
Chaabani also pointed to his side’s growing experience in navigating difficult African environments, saying they are mentally conditioned for the high-stakes occasion.
“We have a strong immune system to handle these conditions, and we will manage our physical effort according to the match’s progress,” he said.
“We hope to rise to the occasion and succeed in pleasing the Berkane fans, who always support us, to win the title.”
The return leg kicks off at 13:00 GMT on Sunday. A draw or even a narrow defeat by a one-goal margin will be enough for Berkane to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup trophy.
-CAF
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CAF Confederation Cup
Excitement builds ahead of CAF Confederation Cup return leg

Following a 2-0 win for RS Berkane over Simba SC in the first leg of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup Final in Berkane, Morocco, attention will turn to the return fixture on the island of Zanzibar this Sunday.
The match will be played at Amaan Stadium at 16h00 local time (13h00 GMT) and will be live across all CAF’s broadcast partners, including Azam Media, beIN Sport, Canal+, SuperSport, SABC and several other global platforms.
RS Berkane go to the second leg with the advantage after early goals from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui at home, but Simba SC have shown plenty of fighting spirit already this campaign and will be confident of overturning the deficit.
The winners of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup will be awarded a new trophy that will be unveiled later this week.
CAF and host club Simba SC are working closely together to ensure that the event in Zanzibar is a success.
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