Andrew Olsson
April 1, 2026Botola Pro: OC Safi slows down RS Berkane in draw at home
Photo: OC Safi
Botola Pro: OC Safi slows down RS Berkane in draw at home
Olympique de Safi and RS Berkane played out a 1–1 draw this Wednesday evening at El Massira Stadium, in a rescheduled match from Matchday 10 of the Botola Pro.
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In a first half marked by excessive caution on both sides, clear-cut chances were few and far between. Les Safiots—lacking confidence given their last place position in the standings—opted for a compact defensive block, seeking above all to contain their opponents’ attacks.
On the other side, Berkane—despite being accustomed to dictating the tempo—ran up against a well-organized defensive setup. Consequently, the game became concentrated in midfield, characterized more by physical commitment than by creativity—a fact underscored by several rough challenges that resulted in bookings.
It was not until after the halftime break that the match took on a different complexion. Adopting a more enterprising approach, both clubs raised their intensity levels, finally opening up space on the pitch.
It was in this context that RSB found the breakthrough in the 68th minute: perfectly set up by Monir Chouiar, Youness El Kaabi demonstrated his keen eye for goal to open the scoring and cap off his team’s growing dominance.
However, the Berkanis’ lead proved short-lived. With their pride stung, Olympique de Safi responded with grit and character. Following a well-orchestrated team move, Moussa Koné leveled the score in the 76th minute, reigniting hope for the home side and completely turning the match around.
The closing stages of the game, which became more open, ultimately failed to produce a winner, despite several attempts from both sides. Berkane—undoubtedly already focused on their upcoming continental fixtures—missed the opportunity to consolidate their position at the top of the table. For their part, Safi managed to salvage a precious point, even if their situation remains critical.
In the standings, Renaissance de Berkane brings their total to 27 points, occupying fourth place, while Olympique de Safi remains rooted to the bottom of the table with a mere 7 points. A draw that truly suits no one!