CAFCC: Raja Casablanca silence Enyimba International

On Wednesday in the CAF Confederation Cup semifinal Match between Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Enyimba International of Nigeria, the Moroccans stunned the People's Elephants at home with a 0-1 victory, thereby sending all the Nigeria Domestic Football fans to go silent after an unexpected result.

First half match statistics

The game ended goalless in the first half with both team not holding anything back to take the lead. Enyimba were the better side with 3 shots on goal compared to Raja who had just 1 shot on target, nevertheless, the Moroccans edged the People's Elephants on ball possession in the first half.

At the opening of the second half, Moroccan Striker Abdelilah Hafidi opened scoring for the Moroccans with a right footed shot from the left side of box to the left bottom corner of net, as set piece efforts from Zakaria Hadraf handed Hafidi the assist to secure the only goal of the night in the 48th minute.

Enyimba had the chance to restored parity to themselves in the 66th minute following a foul conceded by Sanad Masoud, the 26-year-old Libya International was booked for handling the ball in his own 18-yard-box and the Tunisia referee Youssef Sraïri awarded a penalty to Enyimba International in which Stanley Dimgba left footed spot kick went a little bit high and over the bar.

Every other efforts made by the Nigerian side to restore parity to their team proved abortive and it was the visiting Raja Casablanca side that was smiling and rejoicing after 90 minutes.

Enyimba did not only lost the game but also loose their first choice goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai to injury, he was replaced by Nigeria National team goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa in the 75th minute.

Full time match statistics

The full time statistics shows that both team did very well in the game and the second leg in Tunisia will be highly competitive. Enyimba already will the risk of eviction will want to do everything possible in the return leg to make the final having lost at home.

After 90 minutes, it Enyimba 0-1 Raja Casablanca, so it ended in Eyimba International Stadium.

By Oladele Emmanuel Abiodun
Email: nigfooty@gmail.com