CAF Champions League: AS FAR take first leg lead in all-Moroccan clash

Two second half goals gave Rabat club AS FAR a 2-0 edge over fellow Moroccan club RS Berkane following Saturday evening’s CAF Champions League semifinal first leg duel.

🎞️ Match Highlights:
All-Moroccan #TotalEnergiesCAFCL semifinal is decided by AS FAR vs neighbours RS Berkane. pic.twitter.com/s5f1tKJIBU

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 11, 2026

Ahmed Hammoudan opened the scoring close to the hour mark for Les Militaires before Khalid Ait Ouarkhane’s late strike confirmed an important result for the hosts at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in the Moroccan capital.

The visitors got off to a poor start and never recovered, being forced on the defensive for the majority of the match. The Orange Boys did manage to keep the match scoreless through the first half and attempted to regroup at halftime.

Strong second half gives hosts the lead in CAF Champions League semifinal

But the pressure continued to increase from the hosts and a poor giveaway set up the opening goal. After winning the ball in midfield, an AS FAR attack led to a chance for forward Youssef El Fahli, who was denied by excellent goalkeepering from RSB keeper Anas Zniti. However, the former Raja Casablanca star was powerless to stop Hammoudan’s low shot soon after on a second attempt.

While a 0-1 defeat would not be catastrophic for RSB, the visitors continued to wilt under heavy pressure. An effective attack down the right wing set up the second goal for the Royal Army club when a cross ricocheted into the path of a late run from Ait Ouarkhane, who fired a low shot past Zniti for an important goal.

The two teams will meet again in Berkane next Saturday, where the aggregate winner will advance to face either Mamelodi Sundowns or Espérance Tunis in the final.