Qatar Football AssociationCAF
30.03.2019 12:12 in :

Doha: Raja Casablanca of Morocco edged Tunisia’s Esperance 2-1 to win the Total CAF Super Cup 2019 here yesterday at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium.

The fighting win helped the Moroccan side to clinch the trophy for the second time. There were delirious scenes at the end as Raja’s players and fans celebrated their first Super Cup trophy in 19 years.

Going into the match, the Tunisians were looking to secure their second Total CAF Super Cup after winning their maiden title in 1995 while Casablanca last tasted Super Cup success in 2000.

Watched by a capacity crowd of 18,378, yesterday’s match was the first time, the competition first held in 1993 and organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been played outside Africa.

The Super Cup is an annual one-off match pitting the winner of the Total CAF Champions League and second-tier Total CAF Confederation Cup against each other.

Goals from Abdelilah Hafidi, and captain Badr Benoun sealed victory for Raja.
Esperance’s Mohamed Youcef gave hopes with an equaliser in the 57th minute to give the Tunisians hopes of a fight back.

But Raja stood their ground to join Nigerian outfit Enyimba and Étoile du Sahel as the sides to have won the trophy twice.

The victory was some consolation Raja’s French coach Patrice Carteron.
He was the manager of the Egyptian team, Al Ahly, who lost to Esperance in the Total CAF Champions League final last November, which led to him being sacked.

But there was little chance of him losing again yesterday as they dominated for long stretches of the final.

After a subdued opening, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock after 22 minutes thanks to an impressive strike Hafidi, his superb strike from 20 yards to give the Moroccans the lead.

Five minutes later, Hafidi threatened once again as his through-ball sent Rahimi in the clear goal, but the latter was unable to fire home.

Esperance managed to see a bit more of the ball in the latter stages of the half although they were unable to find a way past Anas Zniti before the break.

The Tunisians came out a different side in the second half and they managed to pull themselves level after 57 minutes, with Youcef firing Past Zniti.

However, Raja restored their lead in spectacular fashion through Benoun, who sent a delightful flick past Esperance goalkeeper Jrdi in the 65th minute.

The Moroccans were forced to make a change with 10 minutes remaining after Hafidi was forced off, but the midfielder’s departure had no real bearing on the result as Raja held on for the win.