Fez – Morocco’s RS Berkane has won the CAF Confederation Cup title after beating South Africa’s Orlando Pirates on penalties 5-4 (1-1 on aggregate) in tonight’s game held at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
With their win tonight, RS Bekane has further solidified Moroccan teams’ dominance over the precious African title in recent years.
RS Berkane will now contest the 2022-23 African Super Cup against the winner of the much-anticipated CAF Champions League final between Morocco’s Wydad AC and Egypt’s Al Ahly scheduled to take place on May 30 at Mohammed VI Stadium in Casablanca.
Following a hard-fought road to the final of Africa’s second-best club competition, both competing teams started the game with nothing in mind but victory.
While RS Berkane vied to seal their second continental title, Orlando Pirates aspired to make history by clinching their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup title.
Aware of the fact that finals are not to be played but won, managers of both teams instructed their players to not be impulsive and to stick to their defensive duties, especially in the first minutes.
As time progressed, both teams began to dust off their defensive retreat and gradually attempted to test each other’s goalkeeper.
RS Berkane’s winger shot saved by the South African goalkeeper was the Moroccan club’s only effort in the first half.
Orlando Pirates had fewer but better chances and twice forced the Moroccan goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani into a save.
Yet, the South African club’s attempts were in vain as RS Berkane’s compact defense helped keep their goalkeeper out of reach until the final moments of the first half.
Having not much to discuss in the first half, the referee blew the whistle, giving both teams a chance to refresh and re-organize their lines.
As the second half kicked off, Orlando Pirates players pushed hard against the Moroccan club’s solid defense. But their relentless attempts died as they hit the walls of RS Berkane’s strong and compact defensive setup.
Orlando Pirates dominated the field, launching a full-scale against the Moroccan team. Still, RS Berkane goalkeeper Hamiani once again emerged as the team’s savior, clearing the South African club’s unrelenting threats.
For their part, RS Berkaneresorted to swift counter-attacks, attempting to surprise the South African club.
The dying moments of the second half were nerve-wracking for both teams, as none of them seemed prepared to lose the breathless fixture.
During the first minutes of the first extra-time, RS Berkane seemed to finally take a lead in the game, as the players grew more confident of their ability to outperform their South African counterparts and clinch the African title.
Six minutes after the first extra-time kicked off, such ambitions were translated into reality as the referee awarded a penalty to the Moroccan club.
RS Berkane Youssef El Fahli converted the penalty into a goal, sending cheers of joy in the stands.
Satisfied with their first goal, the Moroccan club retreated to defend their precious lead.
On the other end, Orlando Pirates, surprised by RS Berkane’s lead, tried to push harder against the Moroccan club defense and score the equalizer.
The South African club’s relentless attempts in the dying moments of the second extra-time, as the Orlando Pirates winger Thembinkosi Lorch sent a low shot that eluded everyone, including the Moroccan goalkeeper, and forced the competing teams to go for the penalty shootout.
In the penalty shootouts, Morocco’s RS Berkane goalkeeper again appeared to be the man of the moment, crowning the Moroccan team as the ultimate winner of the CAF Confederation Cup title and dashing Orlando Pirates’ hopes to clinch their first-ever title.
As the referee announced the Moroccan team as the ultimate winners, joyous chants echoed through the packed stadium, celebrating the Moroccan club’s second continental title.
Several renowned figures in the football scene were present in Uyo to watch the conclusive game, including the President of the African Football Confederation (CAF) Patrice Motsepe and the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa.
Meanwhile, dozens of Moroccan fans flocked to the stadium to watch the highly anticipated match, while many more held their breaths behind screens as they watched the match play out remotely.
In its quest to provide a unique experience of the highly-anticipated final, Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has purchased all tickets to give to fans who wished to support the competing teams.
Read also: Wydad AC Beats Angola’s Petro Atletico 3-1, Moves Closer to CAF Champions League Final
