CAF Confederation Cup: CR Belouizdad eliminate Guinea’s Hafia FC

Algerian giants CR Belouizdad produced a strong second half to fight off Guinean club Hafia FC and qualify for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup on Friday with a 2-0 second leg victory at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.

CRB advanced with a 3-1 aggregate victory, scoring twice in the second half after the Guinean visitors held the heavy favorites scoreless by halftime.

The third place finishers in last season’s Algeria Ligue 1 Professionnelle were widely expected to advance after earning a 1-1 draw in Senegal last weekend, giving CRB the edge on the away goals rule heading into the second leg. However, Hafia showed promise and kept themselves in contention by holding the hosts over the opening 45 minutes.

But CRB star and Algeria international Abderrahmane Meziane provided a moment of quality close to the hour mark with a clinical volley from a cross after Hafia goalkeeper François Bekale saved an initial shot attempt. Later in the second half, substitute Lofti Boussouar’s header from a corner kick took a deflection past Bekale to put the hosts beyond reach, giving the CRB youth product his first goal of the season.

Sead Ramovic’s side are now through to the group stage where Le Grand Chabab will be considered a major contender to challenge for the CAF Confederation Cup title despite struggling so far in domestic league play (7 points from 6 matches). The group stage draw will take place on November 3.