Ahmed Hammoudan of AS FAR celebrates goal with teammates during the CAF Champions League 2025/26 1st leg semifinal match between AS FAR and Berkane at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Morocco, on 11 April 2026 ©Nabil Ramdani/BackpagePix
Saturday Apr 11, 2026. 23:09
ASFAR have taken a major stride toward the final of the CAF Champions League after they defeated compatriots RS Berkane 2-0 in the first leg of their semifinal tie, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Saturday night.
The Royal Armed Forces club, nicknamed Al Zaeem, struck twice in the second half via Ahmed Hammoudane and Khalid Ait Ouarkhane to put themselves well on course for a return to the final for the first time since their only continental championship way back in 1985.
A tense opening quarter saw the teams exchange attacking moments, without any clear chances created at either end.
ASFAR had an appeal for a penalty in the 26th minute when winger Ahmed Hammoudane tumbled in the 18-yard area, but the referee opted against awarding a spot kick, and his decision was validated by TV replays.
In the 33rd minute the hosts created space for Nolan Mbemba to fire a low drive on target from the left of the penalty area, but Berkane goalkeeper Anas Zniti made a relatively comfortable save.
The Royal Armed Forces side enjoyed a couple more promising moments, but the half closed with the score still locked at 0-0.
ASFAR continued to push through the early stages of the second half and they found the back of the net shortly before the hour mark, with Hammoudan capitalising on a loose ball after Youssef El Fahli had been denied by Zniti, firing home a left-footed shot for 1-0.
Berkane responded well to going behind and built up a strong sense of attacking pressure, but that was punctured in the 80th minute when a ball fell kindly for Khalid Ait Ouarkhane on the edge of the penalty area, and he emphatically struck home a low drive to see the hosts 2-0 up.
Al Zaeem had further chances to add to their advantage, but also had to weather a late storm from the Oranges, who pushed hard to secure a vital away goal but were ultimately left frustrated in their attempts.
The return game will be held at the Berkane Municipal Stadium next Saturday evening. The aggregate winners will advance to the final to face either Mamelodi Sundowns or Esperance de Tunis.
ASFAR (0) 2 (Hammoudane 58’, Ouarkhane 80’)
RS Berkane 0
ASFAR: Tagnaouti, To Carneiro, Mendy, Louadni, Bach, Hadraf (Abdelhamid 89’), Hrimat, Mbemba (Ouarkhane 61’), Slim (El Abd 88’), Hammoudan (Bouriga 76’), El Fahli
RSB: Zniti, Kandouss, Assal, Sadil, Riahi (El Morabit 85’), Chouiar, Labhiri (Aabid 68’), Khairi, Boukhriss, Mehri (Machach 77’), El Kaabi (Bassene 46’)