CAF Champions League Final: Sofiane Khedaïria’s Moment of Redemption
This Sunday marks a pivotal moment in the career of Sofiane Khedaïria, the goalkeeper of ES Sétif, as he prepares to guard the posts in the CAF Champions League final first leg against AS Vita Club. For the 25-year-old shot-stopper, it’s more than just a match—it’s personal.
“It would be the culmination of a career, even though I’m only 25. It’s a competition I watched on television as a child. It would be fantastic to take part,” Khedaïria told FIFA.com.
After struggling to break through in France, where he featured for clubs like Besançon, Cassis-Carnoux, and Le Mans, Khedaïria now sees this final as a form of vindication:
“In France, in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, I didn’t get the chance I deserved… I hope all my former coaches in France, those who didn’t believe in me, will keep an eye on this final.”
Denied opportunities in his home country, he found faith and purpose with ES Sétif. Now on the brink of African glory, he hopes to silence the doubters once and for all—and maybe, just maybe, earn a place on the world stage at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Victory over AS Vita Club could do just that.
