RS Berkane qualified for the CAF Champions League group stage by beating Star Sport Academy 1-0 in the second leg, thanks to a goal from Youssef Mehri. The Oranges win 3-0 on aggregate.
Renaissance Sportive de Berkane have booked their ticket to the CAF Champions League group stage. This Saturday, 24 October 2026, the Oranges saw off Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy 1-0 at the municipal stadium in Berkane, in front of their supporters. The second leg counted towards the competition’s second preliminary round. The only goal of the match came from striker Youssef Mehri in the 53rd minute, according to Medi1 News.
The win follows the 2-0 victory in the first leg on 17 October 2026 in Liberia, thanks to a brace from Oussama Lamlioui in the 14th and 45th minutes. Over the two meetings, Berkane prevail 3-0. The Moroccan club were exempt from the first preliminary round, CAF Online recalls.
Mehri breaks the deadlock
It took until the 53rd minute for the net to ripple. Youssef Mehri, the RS Berkane striker, found a way through against the Sierra Leonean side and gave his team the only goal of the game.
RS Berkane are coached by Bubista, a Cape Verdean manager, according to Transfermarkt. With this win, the club secure their place in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition for the second season running, according to Le360 Sport.
A smooth run
Their entry into the competition, delayed by an exemption from the first preliminary round, ends with qualification on a 3-0 aggregate score.
Lamlioui’s brace in the first leg had already gone a long way to settling the tie, before Mehri scored the goal in the second leg.
According to Medi1 News, RS Berkane are the first Moroccan club to qualify for the group stage of this 2026/2027 edition.
Focus on the Botola and the draw
Bubista’s side will now turn their attention to the Moroccan championship, with a Botola Pro match scheduled for next week. The CAF Champions League group stage draw will then determine their opponents.