JS Kabylie and AS FAR share spoils in cagey CAF Champions League stalemate

JS Kabylie of Algeria and Morocco’s AS FAR played out a tense but goalless draw on Saturday in their CAF Champions League Group B encounter at the Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed in Tizi Ouzou, a result that left both sides with work to do in the race for the knockout stages.

For AS FAR, the point was a respectable outcome under the circumstances. The Moroccan giants were returning to competitive action for the first time in two months following an extended pause caused by the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

JS Kabylie, by contrast, will feel they missed an opportunity to press their advantage at home, with the stalemate doing little to improve their standing in a tightly contested group.

The early stages belonged to the hosts, who looked sharper and more settled as AS FAR showed signs of rustiness. JS Kabylie pressed high and moved the ball with intent, forcing the visitors onto the back foot.

Gradually, however, the Royal Army side found their rhythm and began to pose problems of their own. Abdelfettah Hadraf nearly opened the scoring after bursting through the middle, only for goalkeeper Gaya Merbah to produce a timely save.

JS Kabylie’s best chances fell to Ryad Boudebouz, whose quality repeatedly threatened to unlock the Moroccan defence. The experienced playmaker struck the woodwork with a superb long-range volley from a set-piece, beating goalkeeper Ayoub El Khayati only to see the effort crash against the post. Moments later, another promising opening went begging.

The pattern continued after the break, with Boudebouz again testing El Khayati from distance, but AS FAR’s goalkeeper remained alert to preserve his clean sheet. Despite sustained pressure, the Algerian side struggled to break down a disciplined defensive block.

The draw leaves both clubs level on two points in the lower half of Group B, trailing leaders Al Ahly, who defeated Young Africans on Friday.

JS Kabylie and AS FAR will renew their rivalry in a week’s time in Rabat, where the Moroccans will hope home advantage can spark a push back into qualification contention.