CAF Confederation Cup: OC Safi secure quarterfinal berth with games to spare

OC Safi (OCS) may be at the bottom of the table in Morocco’s Botola Pro, but continental success continued for the club on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Ivorian club FC San Pédro in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Salaheddine Errahouli’s 30th minute strike confirmed a place for the club in the quarterfinals following their victory at the Stade El Massira. Senegalese forward Moussa Koné finished off the victory late on with a fantastic overhead kick before San Pédro scored a late consolation in stoppage time.

The club from western Morocco did not dominate the visitors on Sunday but did enough to make it three victories from four matches in Group A.

Another strong defensive effort set the stage for OCS to strike on the counter-attack for the only goal of the match. After winning the ball in their own end, Les Requins swiftly advanced into the opposition half.

San Pédro goalkeeper Kombo Kouassi did well to come out and close down after a pass behind his defense. However, he was only able to push the ball to the left side of his penalty area where Errahouli collected and looped a curling effort off the post and into the goal.

The West African visitors made plenty of attacks towards the OCS goal but failed to produce clear chances. One exception was when the best opportunity arrived for San Pédro in the 56th minute but after finding room to shoot from eighteen yards out, Lancine Dosso fired his shot off the post with OCS goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani clearly beaten.

A late exchange of goals changed the score but not the result. Koné produced a moment of magic in the 89th minute when a cross from the left wing was touched into the air and the Senegalese reacted quickly to place his overhead kick perfectly. The visitors then finally found the goal in stoppage time but it was not enough in the end.

 

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The brilliant strike from Koné stood as the winner for OC Safi, who now only have to focus on attempting to claim first place in Group A. Tied with leaders USM Alger on nine points, they can take a step forward next weekend when they host last place Djoliba when they host the Malian club.

Meanwhile, San Pédro must defeat USM Alger when the Algerian giants come to visit Ivory Coast next match to have any chance of reaching the quarterfinals.

CAF Confederation Cup: Group A Table