RS Berkane will face CS Constantine in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, with the dates and venues for the highly anticipated double-header now officially confirmed.
The Moroccan side, winners of the competition in 2020 and 2022, advanced to the last four after dispatching ASEC Mimosas with identical 1-0 victories in both legs.
Under the guidance of coach Mouine Chaabani, Berkane are enjoying a near-flawless campaign.
In addition to their continental dominance—nine wins from ten matches, 21 goals scored, and just a single goal conceded—they have also been crowned champions of Morocco, with their domestic title sealed well before the end of the Botola season.
Their opponents, CS Constantine, have emerged as the tournament’s dark horse. Sitting mid-table in Algeria’s Ligue 1 Mobilis, Constantine defied expectations by eliminating USM Alger in the quarter-finals.
Both legs ended in 1-1 draws, with the Sanafirs ultimately prevailing 4-3 in the penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that the first leg will take place on Sunday, 20 April, at the Berkane Municipal Stadium, where a passionate home crowd is expected to provide a raucous backdrop.
The return fixture is scheduled for Sunday, 27 April, at the Stade du 17 Juin in Constantine.
While the tie carries sporting significance, it is also set against a politically sensitive backdrop, given the recent history between Moroccan and Algerian clubs in CAF competitions.
Last season’s semi-final between Berkane and USM Alger was never played after USMA refused to take the pitch in protest over Berkane’s jersey, which featured a map of Morocco including Western Sahara—an area whose status remains a point of contention between the two nations.
CAF awarded the match to Berkane by default, and USM Alger subsequently took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In March 2025, CAS ruled in favour of USMA, determining that Berkane’s jerseys breached CAF’s regulations on political neutrality.
🔴 Sous peine de sanctions, la RS Berkane se plie aux instructions du TAS et porte désormais un maillot arborant le drapeau du Maroc 🇲🇦. pic.twitter.com/SHZKbRcMju
— La Gazette du Fennec (@LGDFennec) April 2, 2025
The Moroccan club has since redesigned its kit, removing the disputed emblem to comply with CAF’s standards and avoid further controversy.
Although there will be no direct rematch between Berkane and USM Alger, the meeting with Constantine retains symbolic weight.
The Morocco–Algeria sporting rivalry is deeply entrenched, and the semi-final adds another chapter to their complex footballing history.
For Berkane, the mission is clear: maintain their dominant form and reach another CAF Cup final. For Constantine, the aim is to ride their underdog momentum and achieve a historic breakthrough.
With both clubs aware of the high stakes and the charged atmosphere surrounding the ties, drama is all but guaranteed.
As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on the first leg in Berkane, where two teams with contrasting trajectories but equally strong motivations will battle for a coveted place in the final.
It’s time for the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬!
Take a look at the schedule and prepare for the action. ⤵ pic.twitter.com/bvOtd1NSWW
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 14, 2025
