Weekend wins for FAR Rabat, JSK

2008-07-28

FAR Rabat won Morocco's Throne Cup last Saturday after defeating MAS Fès in the final match. Algeria’s JS Kabylie pulled off a stunning victory Sunday afternoon over Cameroon's home favourites Astres de Douala, booking their ticket to the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui and Lyes Aflou for Magharebia – 28/07/08

[Noufel Cherkaoui] FAR Rabat captain Tarik Jarmouni received Morocco's Throne Cup after beating MAS Fès. Algeria’s JS Kabylie also pulled off a stunning victory with a 1-0 victory over Cameroon's Astres de Douala.

FAR Rabat won Morocco's Throne Cup for the tenth time in club history on Saturday (July 26th), defeating Moghreb Fes 1-0 in Rabat.

The match was slow to get started, with both teams holding the ball towards the midfield to avoid any dangerous mistakes.

Fès striker Nabil Daoudi, who was named man of the match, missed an opportunity to score ten minutes in. He rushed the FAR goal and launched a strong attack but the ball hit the bar and went wide.

After that, the rhythm of the match sped up. Five minutes later, Rabat star Youssef Kaddioui passed the ball to teammate Amine Kabli, whose header was cleared by Fès keeper Abdelhakim Ait Boulmane.

After more failed attempts on both sides, Rabat forward Jawad Ouaddouch scored the lone goal on a header at the start of extra time. Fès couldn't muster an equaliser, leaving FAR Rabat to seize their second consecutive Throne Cup.

Moghreb Fes coach Rachid Taoussi said, "I would like to congratulate FAR Rabat on winning the Throne Cup title... their officials are professional, and their players are among the best in Morocco. In addition, they have an experienced, highly efficient and smart coach."

Youssef Kaddioui said, "By winning the Cup title, we managed to repay our fans for other titles we did not win. Today, we have [also] opened our appetite to take the African Cup title, which we promise our fans to win."

Algeria's JS Kabylie played Cameroon's Astres de Douala on Sunday afternoon in Cameroon in a CAF Confederation Cup match. Both teams were eager to win after their last meeting on July 11th ended in a 1-1 tie.

It was JSK who advanced to the group phase, however, following a goal from midfielder Tayeb Berramla in the 78th minute. Forward Yacine Amaouche fed him the ball, which Berramla thundered into the Cameroonian net.

Despite their ultimate 1-0 loss, the Cameroonians dominated the pitch for much of the match. The Algerians merely played well-organised defence and employed occasional counter-attacks.

The strategy bore fruit despite logistical problems the team had faced. According to club management, the Cameroonian hosts failed to provide transportation from Douala airport, some 125 miles away. Club Chairman Moha Cherif Hannachi is expected to lodge an official complaint with the CAF for this violation of the rules.

Hannachi was delighted with the result, however. JS Kabylie now finds itself in Group B together with ES Sahel, Asante Kotoko and Sudanese side Al Merreikh. The first matches in the group stage will be played from August 15th-17th in Khartoum.

Other teams that have also already made it through to the group phase of the Confederation Cup are Tunisia's CS Sfaxien and ES Sahel, Sudan's al-Merreikh, Egypt's Haras El Houdoud and Angolan side Interclub.