Moroccan teams shine in CAF cup

Senegalese Jaraaf FC cry foul over treatment

Renaissance Berkane of Morocco trounced ASC Jaraaf of Senegal 5-1 on Saturday in a CAF Confederation Cup play-off second leg to reach the group stage.

The thrashing completed a miserable trip to North Africa for the Dakar club after officials complained about being given an old bus and staying at a hotel far from the stadium.

Berkane said they were victims of poor treatment when in Senegal last weekend for the first leg, which they lost 2-0 after missing a penalty. Renaissance qualified 5-3 on aggregate for a second successive appearance in the group phase of the second-tier African club competition. Hassania Agadir hammered Jimma Aba Jifar of Ethiopia 4-0 to ensure Morocco will have at least two teams in the 16-club group draw this Monday in Cairo. Leading 1-0 from the first leg in Addis Ababa, Hassania needed only 18 minutes to open the scoring at home through Yassine Rami and the other three goals came during the second half.

Ittihad Tanger, the third Moroccan club in action, fell 3-1 away to Zamalek of Egypt in Alexandria to bow out by the same score overall after a goalless first encounter. A tense North African showdown was not decided until five minutes from time when Youssef Ibrahim struck a third goal for nine-time CAF title winners Zamalek. Trophy-holders Raja Casablanca are expected to increase the Moroccan representation in the draw to three clubs on Sunday after drawing 1-1 away to African Stars of Namibia last weekend. Academy side Salitas became the first club from Burkina Faso to reach the group stage of a CAF competition thanks to a 3-1 victory over Libyan visitors Al Nasr in Ouagadougou. – AFP

‘‘ Officials claim to be given an old bus and staying at a hotel far from the stadium