RS Berkane sealed their place in the CAF Confederation Cup final despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to CS Constantine in Algeria on Sunday.
After a commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg on home soil, the Moroccan side travelled to Constantine with a comfortable advantage.
Although CS Constantine managed to restore some pride in front of their supporters at the Chahid-Hamlaoui Stadium, it was not enough to overturn the significant deficit from the first encounter.
Determined to avoid further embarrassment, CS Constantine started with intent.
Just two minutes into the second half, Abdelhak Belhocini rose highest to meet a corner and headed past the Berkane goalkeeper, giving the home side a deserved lead.
Belhocini, who had previously featured for Algeria’s local selection in CHAN play-offs, provided a moment of joy for the fans in a match heavily laden with emotion and political undertones.
Despite dominating possession with nearly 70% of the ball and producing 17 of the match’s 20 attempts on goal, CS Constantine were unable to find the additional goals needed to mount a remarkable comeback.
Berkane, knowing their sizeable aggregate advantage, adopted a cautious approach, conceding territory but ensuring the Algerians did not inflict further damage.
The encounter marked RS Berkane’s first visit to Algeria since the tensions surrounding their controversial clash with USM Alger a year ago, a backdrop that had heightened emotions around the semi-final.
In it to win it!
A dominant campaign sees RS Berkane reach their second consecutive #TotalEnergiesCAFCC final! 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/BeLQ6jH7Fp
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 27, 2025
The significance of CS Constantine’s victory, albeit insufficient for progression, resonated deeply given the context.
For RS Berkane, the defeat marks their first loss of this CAF Confederation Cup campaign, but their impressive 4-1 aggregate score ensures their dream of a third continental title remains alive, following previous triumphs in 2020 and 2022.
The Moroccan side will now prepare to face Tanzania’s Simba SC in the final.
Simba secured their spot in the final after a tense goalless draw away to Stellenbosch FC.
Their narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg was enough to see them through, setting up an eagerly anticipated showdown with Berkane.
As the final approaches, RS Berkane will aim to recover from Sunday’s setback and focus on adding another prestigious trophy to their growing collection.
Meanwhile, CS Constantine exit the competition with pride restored, having delivered a performance that reflected resilience and character, despite the odds stacked against them.
The official starting XIs for CS Constantine and RS Berkane ahead of the second leg of their #TotalEnergiesCAFCC semi-final! 📋 pic.twitter.com/cWrbRTaMq5
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 27, 2025
