Entente Sétif Clinch Fifth Place at FIFA Club World Cup, Salvage African Pride
Entente Sétif ended their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on a high note, securing fifth place after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Morocco. The Algerian side triumphed 5-4 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw in regular time, offering a measure of redemption after a disappointing quarter-final exit.
Determined to leave the tournament with heads held high, Sétif entered the match with intensity. However, the A-League champions struck first, with Romeo Castelen putting the Australians ahead in just the 5th minute, a lead they held through halftime.
Sétif came out more purposeful after the break. Their pressure paid off when Ziaya’s effort forced an own goal from defender Matthew Mullen, levelling the score. Just minutes later, Ziaya struck again, this time with a clean finish to give Sétif a 2-1 advantage by the 57th minute.
But just as victory seemed within reach, Iacopo La Rocca‘s pass found Nick Saba, who equalised in the 89th minute, sending the match to penalties.
In the shootout, both goalkeepers displayed nerves of steel, but it was Entente Sétif who held their composure better, edging the contest 5-4 from the spot.
The victory ensured that Sétif, the CAF Champions League titleholders, would not return home empty-handed. It also offered a sliver of consolation for African football, following the early exits of both Sétif and host club Moghreb Tetouan, who were each eliminated by Auckland City.
While Sétif exit with fifth place, attention now turns to the tournament’s second semi-final clash between San Lorenzo (Argentina) and Auckland City (New Zealand), which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. GMT. The winner will meet Real Madrid, who cruised into the final with a 4-0 win over Cruz Azul.
Entente Sétif may not have reached the podium, but their gritty performance in Marrakech served as a proud reminder of African football’s resilience on the world stage.
