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El-Kanemi Warriors of Nigeria battled to a 2-2 draw against Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic in the first leg of their second preliminary-round encounter in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday, keeping their hopes of reaching the group stage alive.
The encounter, played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, produced four goals as the Nigerian side sought to take advantage of playing on home soil against one of Morocco’s most prominent clubs. Blueprint reports
The result leaves the two teams evenly poised ahead of the return fixture in Casablanca on Friday, October 23, when the aggregate winner will advance to the next stage of the continental competition.
For El-Kanemi, the draw represents a valuable result against an opponent with considerable experience in African football. However, the Nigerian side will know that the task is far from complete, with Raja expected to enjoy strong home support in the decisive second leg.
El-Kanemi rise to the challenge
El-Kanemi entered the encounter aware of the challenge posed by Raja, who arrived in Nigeria seeking a positive result to strengthen their prospects of progressing to the group stage.
The Nigerian side had earned its place in the second preliminary round after overcoming UDIB of Guinea-Bissau 3-1 on aggregate in the opening round.
El-Kanemi established a commanding position with a 3-0 victory in the first leg before losing the return encounter 1-0. The aggregate advantage, however, proved sufficient to secure qualification for the next round.
The clash against Raja represented a significant step up in opposition, with the Moroccan club bringing continental pedigree and greater experience to the contest.
Despite the challenge, El-Kanemi managed to score twice and prevent the visitors from securing victory, ensuring that the tie remains open ahead of the return leg.
The 2-2 result also means that neither side has established a clear advantage, leaving qualification to be decided in Morocco.
Neutral venue presents additional challenge
Although El-Kanemi were designated as the home team, the match was played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne rather than the club’s traditional base in Maiduguri.
The change followed the Confederation of African Football’s decision that El-Kanemi’s home ground did not meet the required standards for continental matches.
The arrangement meant the Nigerian side had to contest an important fixture away from its usual surroundings, adding another dimension to the challenge of facing an established opponent such as Raja.
Playing at a neutral venue can affect the familiarity and home advantage a team ordinarily enjoys, particularly in continental competitions where atmosphere and support can influence the rhythm of a match.
Nevertheless, El-Kanemi managed to secure a draw, keeping the tie competitive and giving themselves an opportunity to pursue qualification in the return fixture.
Raja remain dangerous ahead of return leg
Raja Club Athletic will be disappointed not to have secured a first-leg victory, but the draw leaves the Moroccan side with a clear opportunity to settle the contest before their supporters in Casablanca.
The club has a strong history in African football and has won the CAF Confederation Cup twice, in 2018 and 2021. Its continental experience makes the return encounter a demanding assignment for El-Kanemi.
Raja entered the second preliminary round after receiving a bye in the opening round, while El-Kanemi had already negotiated a two-legged tie against UDIB.
The Moroccan side travelled to Nigeria with the objective of securing a favourable result before returning home. The 2-2 draw means they have avoided defeat but will still need to produce a strong performance to confirm their progression.
For El-Kanemi, the challenge will be to maintain the attacking threat demonstrated in the first leg while improving defensively against a team capable of punishing mistakes.
Qualification battle moves to Casablanca
With the first leg concluded at 2-2, both teams will approach Friday’s return fixture knowing that victory would put them in a strong position to progress.
El-Kanemi will need to demonstrate tactical discipline, defensive organisation and composure in possession to cope with the pressure of playing away from home.
The Nigerian side must also make the most of any scoring opportunities that come its way, as goals could prove decisive in determining which team advances.
Raja, meanwhile, will look to use home advantage to take control of the encounter and secure qualification for the group stage.
The result in Ikenne has ensured that the tie remains finely balanced, with neither side able to rely on a first-leg advantage.
For El-Kanemi, progressing against a club of Raja’s stature would represent a major achievement and provide a boost to Nigerian representation in the competition. For the Moroccan side, qualification would keep alive its ambition of adding another continental title to its history.
The two teams will meet again in Casablanca on Friday, October 23, with a place in the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup at stake.
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