AS FAR secured a spot in the CAF Champions League group stage after defeating Sudanese side Al-Merreikh 2-0 this Sunday at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. This victory came in the second-leg match of the competition’s second preliminary round.
AS FAR started the game strongly, aiming to score an early goal that would allow them to control the match comfortably. However, Al-Merreikh’s solid defense and the lack of precision from the Moroccan strikers kept the game goalless in the opening minutes.
Al-Merreikh mainly relied on counter-attacks, which were effectively neutralized by AS FAR’s defense. The packed stadium eagerly waited until the 44th minute to celebrate the opening goal, netted by the in-form Ahmed Hamoudan.
After the goal, the Sudanese team pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but AS FAR managed to absorb their pressure and maintain possession until the halftime whistle.
In the second half, AS FAR did not sit back to defend their lead. They kept pressing and creating dangerous opportunities, with Al-Merreikh’s goalkeeper forced to make several key saves. In the 61st minute, Joël Beya doubled the score for AS FAR with a well-placed goal.
Despite several more chances to increase their lead, AS FAR managed the remainder of the game calmly. With a 2-0 victory, they advanced to the CAF Champions League group stage, joining Raja Casablanca, who qualified the day before after a 2-0 win against Ghana’s Samartex.
The first-leg match between AS FAR and Al-Merreikh had ended in a 2-2 draw.
