RS Berkane picked up a first win in Group D of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after coming off the right end of a 5-3 result against Niger debutants Union Sportive Gendarmerie Nationale on Sunday.
Mouad Fekkak struck a quickfire brace in the 18th and 20th minutes to give the home side a comfortable cushion. The newly signed youngster broke the deadlock after he ran on to an Issoufou Dayo ball from deep in his area, taking a touch with his head before shooting low.
Two minutes later he continued with his dream start when he sneaked in behind the defense to stretch a boot and tap home a cross from Chadrack Lukombe.
USGN’s day continued downhill with Charki El Bahri giving Florent Ibenge’s men a comfortable 3-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes when he ran on to a defense splitting pass from veteran Omar Namsaoui.
The home side had more chances with Namsaoui seeing a freekick saved just after Fekkak had headed wide from a cross.
In the second half though, things seemed to have changed for the boys from Niamey when they scored two goals within three minutes to come to within touching distance of the game.
Victorien Adebayor pulled one back in the 49th minute when he picked up a loose ball inside the box. Hassan Boubacar then scored the second with a shot inside the box off a Doe Domenyo cross.
The Niger side now had the belief that they could turn the game on its head, but they were pegged back when Lukombe scored in the 65th minute with a smashing finish from the backpost after Dayo had put him through from a keeper’s spilled ball.
Two minutes later, it was five for Berkane when Najji Larbi found the back of the net after volleying the ball home following a brush from a corner.
USGN pulled one back through Adebayor off a cool finish from a swift counter attack, but the hope of a remarkable comeback could not come into fruition.
CS Sfaxien 1-0 Zanaco
Elsewhere in Tunis, CS Sfaxien needed a 95th minute penalty to pick maximum points in a 1-0 victory over Zambian side Zanaco.
Mohamed Ben Ali stepped up to the pressure plate to convert the penalty after a handball inside the box. It was the best chance of the game in a tie that didn’t provide much of scoring opportunities.
The result sees Sfaxien move top of Group A, with same points as Pyramids who earlier on beat Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya 2-1.
Source: CAF
Shuaeeb Is a seasoned sportswriter, social worker, and philanthropist. He has been renowned for his support of disabled sports persons and championing for equal rights and opportunities for all sports persons. He is also a father of 4 children and married to His partner Moana who is of Australian descent. He currently does sports volunteering and disability support work aside from writing for this August media.
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