Casablanca – Morocco’s AS FAR secured qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage on Sunday, after defeating Ivorian side CO Korhogo 2-1 in the second leg of their second preliminary-round tie.
The Moroccan club entered the match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex with everything to play for after a goalless draw in Côte d’Ivoire on October 17.
AS FAR made an early breakthrough when Youssef El Fahli converted a penalty in the fifth minute, putting the hosts ahead in the tie for the first time.
However, Korhogo responded in the 54th minute with an equalizer that left qualification undecided for much of the second half.
With five minutes remaining in regulation time, Anas Bach rose to meet a ball with his head and scored the winner, restoring AS FAR’s advantage and securing a 2-1 aggregate victory.
The result sends the Rabat-based club into the group stage of the 2026-27 competition, where 16 teams will compete for places in the knockout rounds.
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AS FAR, coached by Pedro Soares Gonçalves, entered the tournament in the second preliminary round after receiving a bye alongside several other established African clubs, including fellow Moroccan side Raja Casablanca.
The club has a history in the competition, having won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2005 with a victory over Nigeria’s Dolphin FC. AS FAR also reached the final the following year but lost to Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel.
According to CAF’s official calendar, the group stage will begin between November 27 and 29, with six matchdays scheduled through January 24, 2027.
AS FAR will learn their group-stage opponents through the competition’s draw, with the club seeking another extended run in African football.
