Stars avoid defeat
African Stars stood their ground against one of Africa's most lethal attacking teams on Saturday.
African Stars proved they can compete with the best Africa has to offer, when they drew 1-1 with Moroccan football giants Raja Casablanca in the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup clash on Saturday.
Stars had an opportunity to win after midfielder Alpheus Handura gave the home side a 1-0 lead through a massive pile-driver 39 minutes into the match. Handura does not normally score goals, but found himself at the right place at the right time to punish the Moroccans.
Handura's goal caused little panic for Raja Casablanca, who maintained their slow build-up and accuracy throughout the first half.
Stars went into halftime leading 1-0, as scorching temperatures were experienced in Windhoek on Saturday.
Raja Casablanca's Soufiane Rahimi slotted the ball home from close range three minutes into the second half, thereby grabbing a vital away goal.
Stars defence were caught napping after the visitors played a quick corner. Several passes inside the box ended with Rahimi putting the ball into the back of the net.
The two teams had several chances to finish off the match, but were unsuccessful.
African Stars coach Bobby Samaria expressed disappointment that his team conceded an away goal.
The coach is however proud that his team avoided defeat, even if no one gave them a chance of getting something out of the match.
“It is unfortunate that we allowed Raja Casablanca to score a silly away goal. One is not allowed to make such silly mistakes at this level.
“We are however proud that we did not lose the match against a big team on the African continent,” Samaria said. Founded on 20 March 1949 as part of the political struggle against French rule, by nationalists who aimed to create a focused working-class of young Moroccans, Raja Casablanca have enjoyed huge success.
They have won the CAF Champions League on three occasions - 1989, 1997 and 1999 - and have made 16 appearances in the competition.
They won the CAF Confederations Cup in 2003 and last year.
The Moroccan team also finished as runners-up in the 2013 Fifa Club World Cup. The team has 11 league titles and eight Moroccan Throne Cups under their belt.
Stars and Raja Casablanca are in contention to become one of the 16 teams that will qualify for the group stages of the CAF confederations Cup.
The teams that progress will be divided into groups of four, with each guaranteed at least US$275 000.
Stars will travel to Morocco for the second leg which takes place this coming Sunday.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Stars had an opportunity to win after midfielder Alpheus Handura gave the home side a 1-0 lead through a massive pile-driver 39 minutes into the match. Handura does not normally score goals, but found himself at the right place at the right time to punish the Moroccans.
Handura's goal caused little panic for Raja Casablanca, who maintained their slow build-up and accuracy throughout the first half.
Stars went into halftime leading 1-0, as scorching temperatures were experienced in Windhoek on Saturday.
Raja Casablanca's Soufiane Rahimi slotted the ball home from close range three minutes into the second half, thereby grabbing a vital away goal.
Stars defence were caught napping after the visitors played a quick corner. Several passes inside the box ended with Rahimi putting the ball into the back of the net.
The two teams had several chances to finish off the match, but were unsuccessful.
African Stars coach Bobby Samaria expressed disappointment that his team conceded an away goal.
The coach is however proud that his team avoided defeat, even if no one gave them a chance of getting something out of the match.
“It is unfortunate that we allowed Raja Casablanca to score a silly away goal. One is not allowed to make such silly mistakes at this level.
“We are however proud that we did not lose the match against a big team on the African continent,” Samaria said. Founded on 20 March 1949 as part of the political struggle against French rule, by nationalists who aimed to create a focused working-class of young Moroccans, Raja Casablanca have enjoyed huge success.
They have won the CAF Champions League on three occasions - 1989, 1997 and 1999 - and have made 16 appearances in the competition.
They won the CAF Confederations Cup in 2003 and last year.
The Moroccan team also finished as runners-up in the 2013 Fifa Club World Cup. The team has 11 league titles and eight Moroccan Throne Cups under their belt.
Stars and Raja Casablanca are in contention to become one of the 16 teams that will qualify for the group stages of the CAF confederations Cup.
The teams that progress will be divided into groups of four, with each guaranteed at least US$275 000.
Stars will travel to Morocco for the second leg which takes place this coming Sunday.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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