Morocco’s Raja Casablanca have won the last ever Caf Cup, after a 0-0 draw with Cotonsport Garoua on Sunday in Cameroon. Raja, last year’s losing African Champion’s league finalists, won the tie 2-0 on aggregate, thanks to goals from Mustapha Bidouane and Senegal’s Mohamed Ali Diallo in the first leg played two weeks ago.
Raja had to withstand some early pressure with their ‘keeper, Mustapha Chadili, having to make two top class saves in the opening 10 minutes, first from a Soussia Hamadou header and then a shot from Sadjo Haman.
The Cameroonians had another great chance when Wilfrid Endznaga had a clear header, but he managed to put the ball wide of the target.
Raja’s best chance in the opening exchanges came in the 15th minute when Bidouane beat the offside trap and had a clear shot on goal but put his shot wide of the mark. Following these opening chances the game died down and Raja were happy to soak up the pressure from the home team, who were cheered on by a capacity 30,000 crowd.
Cotonsport tried to inject new passion into the match with two substitutions early in the second half, but to no avail. One of those substitutes, Buba Minisu, did have the best chance of the second half but it didn’t come until the 90th minute, when his header rebounded off the woodwork.
Raja held out to win their fifth continental title to go with their three Champions League successes and a Super Cup. It also means that a North African side has won the Caf Cup for the ninth consecutive time.
Next year, the Caf Cup and the African Cup Winners’ Cup, will be combined into a new event, the Confederation Cup, with the promise of prize money and greater TV exposure.
