The Egyptians of Zamalek easily dismissed the Ghanaians of Dreams FC (3-0) in the semi-final second leg of the Confederation Cup and validated their place in the final this Sunday, April 28. The return leg between RS Berkane and USM Alger was canceled, like the first leg, and could therefore see the Moroccans qualify without having played a single minute of play.
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Rarely has a semi-final been so little decided on the pitch. On April 21, the first leg between USM Algiers and RS Berkane had already not taken place, after the Moroccans refused to play the match following the confiscation of their jerseys by the Algerian authorities. At issue: the presence on the latter of a map of the country including Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco but considered as an independent state by Algeria. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) finally ruled in favor of the Moroccan club, declared winner on the green carpet (3-0).
Read alsoConfederation Cup: CAF rules in favor of the Moroccans of US Berkane against the Algerians of USMA
This geopolitical imbroglio continued without surprise this Sunday, April 28 at the Berkane municipal stadium during the semi-final return between the two teams. This time, it was the USM Alger players who decided not to appear on the pitch for the kick-off of the match, also refusing to warm up as a sign of protest against their team’s jerseys. evening opponents.
As in the first leg, the match is currently postponed but the African Football Confederation should logically give RS Berkane victory again against USM Alger, defending champion, and allow the Moroccan club to reach the final of the competition. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) is nevertheless awaiting an appeal procedure against the CAF sanction before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), considering that the body has “ validated the request of the Moroccan club, RS Berkane, to wear a jersey with a political message “.
Zamalek ends Dreams FC dream
In the other semi-final return of the evening, the Egyptians of Zamalek easily dominated the Ghanaians of Dreams FC (3-0). After a very closed first leg which ended with a goalless score (0-0), the Cairotes this time played out with achievements from Hamza Mathlouthi (12th, 0-1), Samson Akinyoola (27th, 0- 2) and Mostafa Shalaby (59th, 0-3) who came to seal the victory for the Egyptian club.
Crowned five times in the CAF Champions League (1984, 1986, 1993, 1996 and 2002) but only once in the Confederation Cup in 2019, the “ Knights whites » of Cairo qualify for the final of the competition for the second time in their history and should normally face the Moroccans of RS Berkane on May 12 and 19.