RS Berkane have reached the CAF Champions League group stage for a second successive season, while Esperance de Tunis have qualified for the competition’s final phase for a record 24th time.
The Moroccan side completed their progress by beating Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy 1-0 at the municipal stadium in Berkane on Saturday. Youssef Mehri scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute.
RS Berkane had already taken control of the tie in the first leg in Monrovia, winning 2-0 through a brace from Oussama Lamlioui. Their latest victory secured a second consecutive historic appearance in the African Champions League group stage after they came through the second and final preliminary round.
Esperance also had to overturn a first-leg deficit to advance. The Tunisian club had lost 1-0 away to Libya’s Swehly, but levelled the tie at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades.
Imad Faraj put Esperance ahead after only eight minutes, drawing the teams level on aggregate. The Tunisian side then completed the turnaround by winning the penalty shootout 3-1.
Esperance were without suspended forward Youcef Belaili, but still secured their place in the group stage and established a new competition record. The qualification marks the 24th time the club have reached the final phase.
AFAD Plateau eliminated by CS Sfaxien
AFAD Plateau’s hopes of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup ended with a 1-0 defeat by CS Sfaxien at the Stade Taieb Mhiri in Sfax.
The Ivorian club had held CS Sfaxien to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Abidjan, but conceded early in the return match. Iyed Belwafi scored in the seventh minute to put the Tunisian side ahead.
AFAD Plateau could not find a response and will therefore not take part in the CAF Confederation Cup. Their elimination means Cote d’Ivoire has lost its first club from the African club competitions at this stage.