FAR Rabat win Moroccan league title

2008-06-11

FAR Rabat won the Moroccan football premier league championship for the 12th time in their history, capping a season filled with victories.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 11/06/08

[File] FAR Rabat won the Moroccan league title for the 12th time by defeating Hassania Agadir 3-1 over the weekend.

FAR Rabat carried home the 12th Moroccan premier league title in club history following a 3-1 win against Hassania Agadir on Sunday (June 8th). The capital team had already clinched the title one round earlier, when they tied 1-1 against KAC Kenitra. Star FAR striker Abderrezak Lemnasfi drove in two goals, deserving top scoring honours with 13 goals.

The team also have ambitions to win the Throne Cup title, as they will be playing in the semi-finals next week against Olympique Khouribga.

Team coach Mostapha Madihe said, "We deserved the title, although it was difficult to win because there have been 5 teams competing, making it a hotly contested race."

Raja Casablanca defeated guests Mouloudia Oujda 3-2 last Sunday in the strongest match in round 30.

Raja star André Senghor scored the first goal with a strong shot in the first minute following a pass from midfielder Abdessamad Ouhakki. Oujda's Zakaria Melhaoui scored an equaliser in the 42nd minute. Metoualli pulled ahead for Raja in the 55th minute on a penalty kick, but Nicolas Ndione managed to tie it up again in the 67th minute with a wonderful goal. Nevertheless, Ouhakki came back a few minutes later to score the winning goal for Raja.

IZK Khemisset also defeated guests Difaa El Jadida 2-1 in a strong match.

IZK midfielder Rahal El Khaddouri scored the first goal just two minutes in, taking advantage of an error by the visiting defence. Senegalese teammate Mohammed Fall tapped in a second goal from a header in the 25th minute. Meanwhile, El Jadida's Ndaye scored his team's only goal in the 55th minute after a pass from star Reda Ryyahi.

The referee ruled out against a goal scored by the guests in the 89th minute, citing a foul against the hosts' goalkeeper.

IZK ended the season in second place, very close to the title. Thus, they guaranteed themselves a place in the African Champions League, together with FAR Rabat.

In another match, Moghreb Fes hosted KAC Kenitra and beat them 4-0.

Mohammed Jebrane scored the first goal in the 7th minute. After that, the guests passed up several scoring opportunities. Abdoullat Dimba tapped in the second goal in the 54th minute, Reda Elwettassi scored the third goal in the 65th minute after dribbling past two defenders and the goalkeeper, and Abdelkrim Benhnia tapped in the fourth goal from a very strong shot in the 70th minute.

Jeunesse Massira defeated Kawkab Marrakech 1-0. The goal was scored by Zaitouni from a header after a free-kick played by teammate Elbekkali.

Moghreb Tétouan defeated their guests CODM Meknes 2-0. Mounir Sebbari scored the first goal for his team in the 39th minute, while teammate Mehdi Arrafi tapped in the second goal in the 54th minute after Madihi's penalty kick hit the bar. After that, CODM Meknes tried to score on several occasions but to no avail.

Olympique Safi and FUS Rabat tied 0-0; Olympique Khouribga and Wydad Casablanca played to a 1-1 draw.

Based on these results, both FUS Rabat and CODM Meknes were relegated to the second division of the Moroccan league, having ended the season in the last two places on the general rankings.