RS Berkane could be called upon to face Espérance de Tunis in the African Super Cup following Zamalek’s decision to withdraw from the fixture. The Egyptian club has officially refused to take part in the match, creating uncertainty around the organization of the annual contest that traditionally pits the CAF Champions League winner against the CAF Confederation Cup champion.
On Tuesday, Zamalek president Mortada Mansour confirmed that his team would boycott the game, which is scheduled to be held on February 14, 2020, in Doha, Qatar. According to Mansour, the decision is linked to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Egypt and Qatar. Because of these political issues, the Cairo-based club has chosen not to travel for what is considered a prestigious but symbolic encounter between the continent’s two titleholders.
Zamalek’s withdrawal has left the Confederation of African Football (CAF) searching for alternatives. One possibility would be to award the trophy directly to Espérance de Tunis by default. Another scenario under consideration involves inviting RS Berkane to replace Zamalek. The Moroccan side finished as runners-up in the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup after losing to the Egyptian giants in the final, which technically makes them the next eligible team.
However, RS Berkane appear reluctant to accept such an invitation. The club’s management has made it clear that they are not interested in participating under these circumstances. Speaking to Al Watan Sport, director Hicham Mahdaoui stated that the Moroccan club has not yet been contacted by CAF but would reject the proposal if approached.
Mahdaoui explained that Berkane’s stance is based on both sporting and symbolic reasons. From a competitive perspective, the team feels they did not earn the right to play in the Super Cup, having lost the Confederation Cup final. In their view, participation would only be justified if they had actually won the trophy on the field.
There is also a deeper sentiment tied to regional rivalries. Mahdaoui added that, as Moroccans, agreeing to face Espérance could be interpreted as recognizing the Tunisian side as African champions. This remains a sensitive issue for many Moroccan supporters, particularly following the controversial CAF Champions League final between Espérance and Wydad Casablanca, which ended amid disputes and left lingering frustrations.
With both Zamalek and RS Berkane hesitant, CAF now faces a complicated situation. The governing body must decide whether to find another replacement or simply award the title to Espérance, leaving the future of this year’s African Super Cup uncertain.
