Rabat – Raja Casablanca secured a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage after defeating Nigeria’s El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 on Friday at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

The Moroccan club sealed qualification in the second preliminary round return leg after a difficult encounter in which it struggled to convert its chances before scoring twice in the final minutes.

Raja entered the match looking to build on the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Nigeria. The Green Eagles dominated much of the first half, creating several opportunities but failing to find the net.

Mohamed Boulacsout helped Raja threaten down the right flank early in the game, while goalkeeper Yassine Zoubair started in place of Mehdi Harrar.

Mohamed Mekkaoui came close to opening the scoring in the 16th minute with a powerful shot that went narrowly wide of the Nigerian side’s right post.

Raja continued to apply pressure, with Mathias Oyewusi missing a promising opportunity in the 26th minute. Six minutes later, the forward struck the post with another powerful effort, denying the hosts a deserved lead.

Mekkaoui then missed another chance in the 42nd minute as Raja went into halftime without scoring despite its attacking efforts.

Raja breaks through in the closing minutes

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Raja pushing forward but struggling to break down El-Kanemi Warriors’ defense.

Frustration grew among the home supporters as the Moroccan side failed to capitalize on its chances. Head coach Paco Jémez responded by making two substitutions in the 68th minute, introducing Bilal Ould Cheikh and Yahya Ighez in place of Mathias Oyewusi and Younes Dahmani.

Three minutes later, Raja players appealed for a penalty after claiming that a Nigerian defender had handled the ball inside the penalty area. However, the referee rejected their protests and allowed play to continue.

Raja finally broke the deadlock in the 89th minute when Ayoub Barkok converted a direct free kick with a well-placed effort, giving the hosts a crucial advantage.

Defender Marian Hujah then sealed the victory with a late header, making it 2-0 and confirming Raja’s qualification for the group stage.

The result allows the Casablanca club to continue its campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup after overcoming a challenging return leg against the Nigerian side.

With the qualification secured, Raja will now turn its attention to the group-stage campaign as it seeks to compete for the continental title.