RS Berkane secured their place in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals after a second successive 1-0 victory over ASEC Mimosas, sealing a 2-0 aggregate win.
Oussama Lamlioui’s 76th-minute strike on Wednesday evening at the Berkane Municipal Stadium proved decisive, sending the Moroccan side through and ending the Ivorian champions’ campaign.
Their remarkable journey continues. 🇲🇦
RS Berkane, the two-time champions, secure their place in the semi-finals. 👏#TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/rkRrWOcqFm
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 9, 2025
Having edged the first leg in Abidjan by a narrow margin, Berkane delivered a composed performance at home to complete the job.
The goal came in the final quarter of the match, with Lamlioui finishing coolly to confirm their progression.
The result means RS Berkane advance to the semi-finals of the competition for a second consecutive season and extend their impressive unbeaten streak to 33 matches.
For ASEC Mimosas, it was a frustrating conclusion to a promising campaign.
Despite arriving in Morocco with hopes of overturning the first-leg deficit, they failed to create enough clear-cut chances to trouble their hosts.
Berkane’s defensive discipline and experience on the continental stage ultimately proved too much for the Ivorian side to overcome.
In the other quarter-final, the anticipated reunion between USM Alger and RS Berkane failed to materialise.
The Algerian champions were knocked out by domestic rivals CS Constantine in a dramatic contest at the July 5, 1962 Stadium in Algiers.
USMA took an early lead through a penalty converted by Adam Alilet in the 25th minute, but their advantage was cancelled out early in the second half when Abdennour Belhocini levelled for Constantine in the 56th minute.
With the aggregate score tied at 2-2 after both legs ended 1-1, the match proceeded to penalties.
CS Constantine held their nerve from the spot, converting four of their attempts, while USM Alger faltered, scoring just three.
The Algerian team writing history. 🇩🇿
CS Constantine, on their debut, clinch a place in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC semi-finals. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HcRpR1QmXm
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 9, 2025
The defeat denied USMA a much-anticipated rematch with Berkane, following last year’s semi-final drama that never unfolded on the pitch due to a controversy surrounding Berkane’s jersey design, which included a map of Morocco featuring the disputed Western Sahara territory.
As RS Berkane prepare to face CS Constantine in the semi-finals, the stage is set for another high-stakes encounter.
Meanwhile, both ASEC Mimosas and USM Alger are left to reflect on missed opportunities and what could have been.
