Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Moroccan club, Renaissance Berkane, emerged victorious by a lone goal over Pyramids of Egypt in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup 2020 final.
The only goal came from Berkane’s defender, Issoufou Dayo, who scored his first goal since September last year. His only previous effort came at home to Ashanti Gold of Ghana in a round-of-32 second leg and the final was delayed five months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Moroccans created far more scoring chances than the Egyptians before surviving a tense finish when reduced to 10 men on 89 minutes after Bakr el Helali was red-carded.
Burkina Faso international Dayo, the only non-Moroccan in the starting line-up, struck after 15 minutes at the Stade Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, Morocco, a match staged behind closed doors because of COVID-19.
Berkane’s win served as a redemption because the club lost in the final of the 2019 Confederations Cup to Egyptian giants Zamalek. Their win also highlights Morocco’s dominance in the competition.
Berkane is the fifth Moroccan club after FAR Rabat, FUS Rabat, Moghreb Fes and Raja Casablanca to win the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
North African clubs have dominated the 17 editions of the Confederation Cup with Tunisian clubs also lifting the trophy five times, and Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek once each.
Berkane will defend the trophy next season while Pyramids go into the CAF Champions League or Confederation Cup depending on whether they finish second or third in the Egyptian Premier League.
For Pyramids, however, making the Confederation Cup final just six years after becoming an elite division club and two years after taking on their current identity from being formerly named Al Assiouty Sport will certainly remain a mark of pride despite Sunday’s defeat.
Berkane came into the final on the back of a 2-1 triumph over national rivals Hassania Agadir, while Pyramids accounted for Guinean side Horoya 2-0 in the semi-final to snatch a historic first-ever final berth.
Although there would be no more goals, there was certainly drama towards the end of the tie as Berkane’s Bakre El Helali was sent off for a rough tackle after a video assistant review.
