Moroccan FAR club wins Confederation of African Football Cup

20/11/2005

Morocco's Royal Armed Forces club took home the Confederation of African Football Cup after beating Dolphins of Nigeria, 3-0. The win marks the third title for Morocco in the competition, with Marrakech team Kawkab having won in 1996 and the Casablancan club Raja in 2003. Overall, Moroccan clubs have won ten African titles.

By Nazim Fethi for Magharebia in Algiers – 05/20/11

[AFP] FAR had to dig deep to defeat Dolphin

On Saturday (19 November) the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR) team won the 14th edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup at Prince Moulay Abdellah sports complex in Rabat. They triumphed over Nigerian counterparts Dolphins 3-0 in the second leg of the final. Moroccan goals were scored by Adil Serraj in the tenth and 45th minute and Hakim Ajraoui in the 63rd minute.

The Moroccans had to work hard to bring home the CAF cup. They fought strong Africa teams including Nigerian club Enugu Rangers, Tunisian team AS Marsa, Guineans outfit Fello Star, and Ghanan side King Faisal.

Although they were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the African Champions League, FAR's fortunes certainly turned around in the Confederation Cup.

The victory was solace to Moroccan football fans, who are still having trouble swallowing the late elimination of the national football team from contention for the 2006 World Cup.

National team supporters, who expect a better performance from their team in the African Cup of Nations to be held next January in Egypt, see the FAR victory as a good omen for the future of Moroccan football.

Mohammed Fakhir, FAR's coach, said the victory was a fitting present for Morocco, which is currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of its independence from France.

"I dedicate the victory to our King and the Moroccan people," BBC Sports reported Fakhir as saying. "It is a victory for the whole group -- the players, coaches and officials. We have worked very hard for this," he said.