Constantine face daunting task against rampant Berkane
Published: Saturday, 26 April 2025
CS Constantine must produce one of the greatest comebacks in TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup history when they host Morocco's RS Berkane on Sunday, trailing 4-0 from the first leg.
The Algerian side were stunned last weekend as Berkane, chasing a third CAF Confederation Cup crown, dismantled them with a dominant performance at home.
Early goals from Youssef Mehri and Paul Bassène set the tone, before Oussama Lamlaoui added two more after the break to all but seal the tie.
Now, coach Kheireddine Madoui faces a monumental challenge to inspire belief among his players and supporters ahead of the return leg at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium.
Despite the odds, Madoui has called on his players to "believe in the impossible" and deliver a spirited performance for the fans.
Constantine's recent form offers little encouragement, with no wins in their last four matches across all competitions.
They must not only find a way past a resilient Berkane defence but also avoid conceding, with the visitors boasting one of the best defensive records in this season's competition.
Berkane, meanwhile, arrive in Algeria in superb form, having won four of their last five Confederation Cup matches. Led by the influential Mehri and Lamlaoui, they carry a cutting edge that has made them favourites to reach a second consecutive final.
A quick start will be crucial for Constantine if they are to mount any form of comeback. They must score early to unsettle Berkane and ignite hope among their passionate home crowd.
However, another Berkane goal would leave the Algerians needing six — a near-impossible mountain to climb.
The Moroccan side have proven themselves seasoned campaigners at this stage, lifting the CAF Confederation Cup in 2020 and 2022, and look well on course to add a third title.
Sunday's clash in Constantine will be a true test of resilience, pride, and belief for the home side — but Berkane are firmly in control as they eye another shot at continental glory.
Kick-off is set for 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Zamalek clinch Egypt Cup after penalty shootout drama against Pyramids FC - Egyptian Football
Cairo giants Zamalek clinched their 29th Egypt Cup title, securing the trophy in a thrilling penalty shootout. They edged Pyramids FC 8-7 following a 1-1 draw after extra time in the final on Thursday. Winger Ahmed Atef opened the scoring for Pyramids FC in the 29th minute, but striker Nasser Mansi equalized for Zamalek in the 78th minute. Zamalek had two chances to win the penalty shootout earlier, as substitute keeper Sherif Ekramy blocked attempts from Mostafa Shalaby and Mansi. However, team skipper and fan-favorite Mahmoud "Shikabala" Abdel-Razek ultimately sealed the deal with the decisive penalty. This win comes to salvage a poor season that saw Zamalek struggling with off-the-pitch troubles, leading the team to finish third in the league and suffer an early elimination from the Confederation Cup. The match started with an aggressive approach, as Zamalek came alive in the opening minutes thanks to the movements of Mostafa Shalaby and Seifeddin Jaziri. Pyramids players relied on high pressing against the White Knights. As time passed, Pyramids, who won their first African Champions League title four days ago, began to find their rhythm. In the ninth minute, the first chance for the Sky Blues came from a header by Marwan Hamdy, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the thirteenth minute, El-Wench nearly scored the opening goal for Zamalek with a header, but Ahmed El-Shenawy made a crucial save. In the 30th minute, Ahmed Atef managed to score the opening goal for Pyramids with a header that found the right side of Mohamed Sobhi's goal. In the 43rd minute, Abdullah El-Said fired a powerful shot from outside the Pyramids penalty area, but it sailed over Ahmed El-Shenawy's crossbar. Zamalek tried to capitalize on the remaining time to equalize, while the Sky Blues sought to extend their lead, but to no avail, ending the first half with Pyramids leading 1-0. At the start of the second half, Zamalek's coaching staff brought on Nasser Mansi and Nasser Maher in place of Jaziri and Nabil Emad, as the Whites attacked to level the score. Marwan Hamdy squandered a golden opportunity to double Pyramids' lead in the 51st minute with a header that went just wide of the right post. In the 52nd minute, Nasser Mansi had a chance to equalize when he broke through on goal, but his shot from inside the penalty area was saved by Ahmed El-Shenawy. Mostafa Shalaby missed a clear chance to score the equalizer for Zamalek in the 60th minute after he penetrated the penalty area but shot over the bar. In the 64th minute, Zamalek's coaching staff substituted Mahmoud Bentaïg for Seif Jaafar. In the 79th minute, Nasser Mansi scored the equalizer for Zamalek after receiving a pass from Ahmed Fattouh, breaking free and placing the ball in the net just as Ahmed El-Shenawy came out. In the 83rd minute, Pyramids made a forced substitution, bringing on Sherif Ikrami for the injured Ahmed El-Shenawy, while Zamalek introduced Shikabala in place of Abdullah El-Said. In the 89th minute, Mostafa El-Zenari came on for Omar Gaber, and both teams sought to score a winning goal in the final minutes, but to no avail, leading to a draw at the end of regular time and forcing both teams into extra time. At the start of the first extra period, Pyramids' coaching staff introduced Youssef Obama in place of Mohannad Lashin. Both teams continued to push for a goal, with Pyramids controlling the game somewhat in this half, but without threatening Mohamed Sobhi's goal, ending the half in a 1-1 draw. Zamalek came alive at the beginning of the second extra period, with Mohamed Sobhi making a brilliant save in the 113th minute, denying Mostafa Fathi's shot from inside the Zamalek penalty area. Zamalek's coaching staff then substituted Mohamed Awaad for Mohamed Sobhy, as both teams tried to make the most of the remaining time to score, but again, to no avail, leading to a penalty shootout where Zamalek veteran captain Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdel-Razik scored the 8th spot kick. Coach Ayman El Ramady may have played his last game with the team as he had been appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CAF
6 days ago
- CAF
Moïne Chaâbani reflects on TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup success
RS Berkane's head coach, Moïne Chaâbani, has expressed his pride in guiding the Moroccan club to victory in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup following their recent triumph over Tanzania's Simba SC. The Tunisian manager emphasised that this continental title was one of the club's primary objectives this season, particularly after the disappointment of losing last year's final to Egypt's Zamalek, which denied Berkane a third title. Speaking exclusively to CAFOnline, Chaâbani reflected on the key factors that led to RS Berkane's third TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title. Congratulations on winning the CAF Confederation Cup TotalEnergies. How does it feel to lift a continental trophy with RS Berkane? Firstly, thank you very much for the kind words. Of course, it's an incredible feeling of pride and honour. This trophy was one of our main targets this season, especially after the disappointment of last year's final loss. This is your second title of the season with RS Berkane, having also secured the Moroccan league title the first in the club's history. What are your thoughts on achieving the double? This title adds to what was already a significant achievement winning the Moroccan Botola Pro, which was very tough. But thanks to the collective efforts of everyone at the club, we were able to win it deservedly. I'm especially proud to have claimed my first trophy with this dear club. You've now joined the elite list of coaches to have won both the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League twice with Espérance Tunis and the CAF Confederation Cup now with Berkane. What does that mean to you? Winning the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League twice before made this new continental title even more special. Thank God, the dream came true. I'd like to thank everyone who played a part in this success, whether directly or indirectly. You lost the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup final last season to Zamalek. Was that a strong motivation for this season's success? Yes, continuing the work we started last season was one of the key reasons behind this year's success. That defeat fuelled our determination to come back stronger. Looking back, what do you think was the key factor behind RS Berkane's success and the double this season? We had an intense and demanding pre-season. I want to thank all the players for the sacrifices and the huge effort they put in throughout the campaign. After winning the Moroccan league, RS Berkane will now compete in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League next season. What are your expectations, and do you believe the team is ready to win it after three CAF Confederation Cup titles? As we head into next season's CAF Champions League, I believe RS Berkane has now gained enough experience on the African stage. Of course, the competition will be tougher than the Confederation Cup, but I genuinely believe this team can go all the way and win the CAF Champions League, God willing. Finally, a message to the RS Berkane fans who supported the team throughout the season. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all the RS Berkane fans for their incredible support this season.
CAF
02-06-2025
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF Women's AFCON 2024: Team Profile
Published: Monday, 02 June 2025 How they Qualified Algeria secured qualification by successfully navigating two rounds of qualifiers. In the first round, the Algerian team faced Uganda, winning 2–1 away and drawing 1–1 at home for a 3–2 aggregate score. In the second round, they dominated Burundi, winning 5–1 in Algiers and 1–0 in Bujumbura, finishing with an aggregate of 6–1. TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations History Algeria will be making their sixth appearance of the competition. Despite their consistency in qualifying, Les Vertes are still striving to make a breakthrough and establish themselves as one of the continent's top sides. To date, they have never progressed beyond the group stage. Players to Watch Marine Dafeur An experienced defender playing for FC Fleury 91 in France, Marine Dafeur brings defensive stability and top-level experience to the team. Trained in France, she joined the Algerian national team in 2023 and quickly established herself as a key figure in the backline. Lina Boussaha An attacking midfielder, Lina Boussaha plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. A former Paris Saint-Germain player, she joined the Algerian squad in 2023. Her European experience and creativity in midfield are valuable assets for the team. Head Coach: Farid Benstiti Algeria has been coached by Farid Benstiti since 2023. A former head coach of the PSG women's team, Benstiti brings extensive experience. Under his leadership, Algeria has shown signs of progress, notably qualifying for the 2024 finals after missing the last two editions. Ambitions and Group outlook Algeria is in Group B alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Botswana. Nigeria, with eleven continental titles, is the group favourite. Tunisia is an improving side, while Botswana – a surprise semi-finalist in 2022 – remains a tricky opponent. Coach Farid Benstiti believes the draw is favourable and that Algeria has a genuine chance of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time.
