Raja Casablanca will return to the CAF Confederation Cup this season, a competition that has become closely associated with the Moroccan club after three triumphs. Their latest appearance in the final came in 2021, when they defeated JS Kabylie to lift the trophy, and they now hope their return can mark another step towards the top of African football.
The club’s continental record gives them considerable pedigree in the competition. Raja Casablanca have won the CAF Confederation Cup three times, with their most recent success coming against JS Kabylie in 2021. That victory was their second under the competition’s new format, following their 2018 triumph, while their first title came in 2003 under the previous version of the tournament.
The 2021 final remains the last time Raja Casablanca reached a major African final. Since then, however, the club have endured a difficult period in continental competition. Although they have continued to represent Morocco on the African stage, the three-time CAF Champions League winners have been unable to reproduce the level of success associated with their earlier campaigns.
Raja Casablanca’s CAF Champions League victories came in 1989, 1997 and 1999. Those achievements established the club as one of Africa’s leading sides, but their more recent continental outings have brought disappointment rather than another deep run.
Their latest appearance came in the 2024-25 season. Raja Casablanca finished third in their group, a result which brought their campaign to an end in the first round. The early exit underlined the gap between the club’s historic reputation and its recent results in African competition.
They will now begin their latest CAF Confederation Cup campaign with the ambition of challenging for the title once again. Raja Casablanca have been exempted from the first preliminary round, meaning their opening tie will be against the winner of the meeting between El-Kanemi Warriors of Nigeria and UDIB of Guinea-Bissau.
That route gives the Moroccan side additional preparation time before entering the tournament, while their history in continental competitions will provide an important source of confidence. The club’s three previous CAF Confederation Cup titles, together with their CAF Champions League record, make them one of the most experienced teams in the field.
Raja Casablanca will therefore approach the competition with expectations extending beyond simply returning to African action. Their record means they will be viewed as potential contenders, and the club will rely on both its status and its experience in continental football as it seeks a fourth CAF Confederation Cup crown.
For Raja Casablanca, the tournament represents an opportunity to reconnect with a competition in which they have enjoyed some of their greatest recent successes. After their 2021 final victory over JS Kabylie and a subsequent period of underachievement, the club’s return offers the chance to rebuild their standing at the summit of African football.