FC Samartex Falls to Raja Casablanca, Exits CAF Champions League
FC Samartex 1996’s journey in the CAF Champions League has come to an end following a 2-0 defeat to Raja Casablanca in the second leg of their preliminary round clash in Morocco.
The result, combined with the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Accra, resulted in a 4-2 aggregate victory for the Moroccan giants.
Raja Casablanca took control of the match at the Stade Mohammed V with a goal from Marouane Zila in the 41st minute.
FC Samartex, needing a goal to keep their hopes alive, struggled to break through the organized defense of Raja. Despite their efforts to mount a comeback, they conceded a second goal in the 88th minute when Naoufel Zerhouni found the net, sealing Raja’s progression to the group stages.
This marks the end of Samartex’s first-ever appearance in the CAF Champions League. The Ghanaian club showed great resilience over both legs but found it difficult to overcome the experience and quality of their Moroccan opponents.
While they will be disappointed with the outcome, the experience of competing on such a high stage will undoubtedly be valuable for Samartex as they return to domestic competitions.
Raja Casablanca, known for their rich history in African football, now advances to the next round, continuing their pursuit of continental success. Samartex, on the other hand, will take the lessons learned from this campaign into their future endeavors, with hopes of returning to the continental stage.