October 29, 2011
October 29, 2011
Moroccan club Maghreb de Fes will most certainly fancy their chances of beating Angola’s Interclube to reach their first-ever continental final on Sunday.
Hosts Interclube needed a late goal a fortnight ago to beat MAS 2-1 in the Caf Confederation Cup semi-final first leg in Luanda.
Runaway winners of Group B MAS took the lead after 39 minutes through Abdelhadi Halhoul.
But it was not till the 84th minute that hosts Interclube drew level when Malian defender Boubacar Sidiki Kone put the ball through his own goal.
And then with the last kick of the ball the Angolans ensured they will take a slender lead to Fes.
Interclube, who lost all but one of the road trips in the group stage of the competition, are aiming to be the first Angolan club to win a major continental trophy.
MAS, on the other hand, are seeking to be the third Moroccan club to clinch Africa’s second-tier club competition after Royal Armed Forces of Rabat in 2005 and FUS Rabat.
They share a lot of similarities with last year’s Confederation Cup winners FUS Rabat.
Like FUS, the four-time Moroccan champions were also playing in the lower league only a few years ago.
Two years ago, they reached the second round of the Confederation Cup, while their best showing in African competitions was achieved in 1984, when they reached the last eight of the then African Champions Cup.
The Tigers will welcome back Azzedine Chtaibi, who missed the first clash due to a one match suspension. He has a great understanding in the midfield with Rachid Dhamani.
Striker Halloul was again in top form in Angola, but he may now be forced to play on Sunday with a new strike partner because Malian forward Moussa Tigana has suffered a slump in form lately.
Source: Super Sport
