Five days after a 2-2 draw salvaged at Ikenne, Raja Casablanca host El Kanemi Warriors on Friday at the Stade Mohammed V. A win, or a 0-0 or 1-1 draw, would be enough for coach Mohamed Nasreddine Nabi to reach the CAF Cup group stage.
Raja Casablanca did not let their chance slip in Nigeria, but they did not pull clear either. On 18 October at Ikenne, the Casablanca side left El Kanemi Warriors with a 2-2 draw, a score that leaves the second leg wide open. This Friday 23 October, the return will be played at the Stade Mohammed V, with kick-off set for 20:00 Moroccan time, 22:00 Paris time, according to Afrik-Foot.
The Moroccan club summed up the occasion in its own way on its official X account: “NOW, IT’S CASABLANCA’S TURN. 2–2 in Nigeria. The next chapter unfolds at home!” A message that captures the stakes: after holding their own away, Raja want to finish the job in front of their own fans and confirm their ticket to the CAF Cup group stage.
Ikenne, a first leg of two halves
In Nigeria, Raja first had to chase the game. After falling behind, the Casablanca side hit back through Mohammad Abu Zrayq, who equalised in the 24th minute, as reported by Afrik-Foot. In the 60th minute, Mathias Oyewusi Kehinde put the visitors ahead.
But El Kanemi Warriors, who reached this second preliminary round after eliminating Bissau-Guinean club Odiibo 3-1 on aggregate (Hespress), found the resources to level in the 82nd minute. A Nigerian goal that brought the scores back level before the return leg and kept the pressure on Mohamed Nasreddine Nabi’s men.
The qualification scenarios
Raja will qualify for the group stage if they win, but also if they draw 0-0 or 1-1, thanks to the away goals rule, Afrik-Foot reports.
The Casablanca side can go into this second leg with a strong argument: they remain unbeaten at home against Nigerian clubs in African competitions since 1999. Raja, for their part, had been exempted from the first preliminary round by the CAF draw, according to Hespress.
Stade Mohammed V, the judge of it all
Historically, Raja have won three and drawn one at home against Nigerian teams, according to figures cited by Afrik-Foot. The pressure will weigh more heavily on El Kanemi Warriors, coached by Mohammed Usman, who will need to score in Casablanca to stand a chance of progressing.
For Raja, forwards Mathias Oyewusi Kehinde and Mohammad Abu Zrayq both scored in Nigeria in the first leg. In France, no official TV broadcaster has yet been confirmed for this second leg, according to Afrik-Foot.