Khaled Baba’s stoppage-time winner sends Morocco Fassi into African Champions League group stage

Morocco Fassi reached the African Champions League group stage after a dramatic 2-1 victory away to ASEC Mimosas in the second leg of their round-of-32 tie on Sunday.

The Moroccan champions progressed 3-2 on aggregate after the first meeting in Morocco finished 1-1. The result also secured their passage to the last 16.

The tie remained goalless at half-time, but Morocco Fassi took the lead in the 62nd minute through Christopher Ibay.

ASEC Mimosas responded quickly and levelled 11 minutes later, with Kevin Bakary finding the net to give the Ivorian side renewed hope of overturning the first-leg result.

Morocco Fassi stayed organised as the match entered its closing stages and produced a decisive late moment. Khaled Baba scored in the seventh minute of added time, completing a 2-1 win and sending the visitors through on aggregate.

In another African Champions League tie, Al Hilal of Sudan also qualified for the group stage after eliminating Ethiopian club Sidama Bunna.

Al Hilal had taken control of the contest with a 2-0 victory in the first leg and repeated that scoreline in the return match.

Ernest Lozolo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute before Mohamed Abdelrahman Al-Gharbal doubled Al Hilal’s advantage in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

The Sudanese side therefore completed a 4-0 aggregate victory to maintain their commanding position across the two matches.