Raja Casablanca defeat El-Kanemi with two late goals to reach Confederation Cup group stage

El-Kanemi Warriors were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup after two late goals gave Raja Casablanca a 2-0 victory in the second leg of their second preliminary-round tie.

The Moroccan side advanced 4-2 on aggregate, with Aymen Barkok breaking the deadlock in the 87th minute at the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V before defender Marian Huja struck again in added time.

The result sends Raja Casablanca into the group stage, while El-Kanemi’s continental campaign ends after they had remained level in the tie for most of the return match.

The Nigerian club arrived in Casablanca following a 2-2 draw with Raja in the first leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on 18 October. Nigerian forward Mathias Oyewusi scored for Raja in that match, which Soccernet previewed in its coverage of the second-leg fixtures.

For 86 minutes of the second leg, the aggregate score remained 2-2. El-Kanemi therefore stayed within reach of qualification until Barkok’s late finish changed the contest, before Huja’s goal confirmed Raja’s progress.

The outcome means El-Kanemi Warriors follow Enugu Rangers out of the two major African club competitions involving Nigerian sides. Enugu Rangers were previously knocked out of the Champions League, a development covered by Soccernet in its report on Rangers and the group stage.

El-Kanemi will now return their attention to the Nigeria Premier Football League, with their next focus on a meeting involving Rivers United and Rangers International.

Rivers United are scheduled to host Rangers International on 1 November in a match that forms part of the title race.