CAF Confederation Cup
FIVE-STAR HASSANIA AGADIR ON THE BRINK
Karim El Berkaoui struck a hat-trick as Moroccan side Hassania Agadir thrashed Libyan outfit El Nasr 5-0 at the Petro Sport Stadium in Cairo on Sunday to put one foot into the semi-finals.
The three-goal haul saw El Berkaoui take his tournament tally to seven with Malick Cisse adding a late brace to seal the victory.
With the healthy first leg advantage away from home, HUSA head back home with little pressure ahead of the return tie next weekend as they look to qualify for the last four for the first time ever.
HUSA were in total dominance against their hosts who have been playing their home ties in Egypt.
They went into the lead after nine minutes when El Berkaoui’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected beyond the keeper’s reach.
The Moroccans went 2-0 up just five minutes later, the red hot El Berkaoui scoring his second of the evening.
He tapped home with a low left foot shot on the second bite of the cherry after his penalty following Muad Alamami’s foul on Youssef Alfahli inside the box was initially saved by the keeper.
Nasr were out of sorts and struggled to pose any danger to the Moroccans as they were restricted to playing inside their own half.
They went 3-0 up just 10 minutes into the second half when the dangerman struck a beauty of a shot from 35 yards out after being teed up by Cisse with the keeper flying to his right in vain.
On the hour mark, HUSA had two back to back chances. First, Alfahli’s shot from the edge of the area was turned behind well for a corner by the Nasr keeper.
From the resultant set piece, El Berkaoui’s header at the near post brushed the outside of the post.
With comfort in their arms, the visitors played well guarded but with no pressure, passing the ball around the pack with ease.
That handbrake approach almost cost them when Muetaz Husayn sneaked behind the defense on the left, but his shot rolled across the face of goal.
That threat seemed to have awoken HUSA’s slumber as they stepped back up with Cisse scoring twice within 10 minutes.
He made it 4-0 with a venomous strike that came off the underside of the bar in the 77th minute to put the game beyond reach for the Libyans.
In the 87th, he put the game to bed with another brilliant finish, shooting the ball into the bottom left after running into a brilliant Bakary Mane pass from deep in his own half.
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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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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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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