Facing Al Ahly, Raja de Casablanca will do everything to reach the semi-finals
It’s time for revenge for Raja Casablanca. Defeated in the first leg 2-1 by Al-Ahly, the Casablancan club intends to turn the tide this Friday at the Mohammed V complex at 10 p.m. to win its ticket to the semi-finals of the African Football Champions League .
To achieve their objective, the Greens will have to take advantage of the advantage of playing at home and in front of their public, to overcome the Egyptian club, defending champion who is aiming for a third title in a row, the 11th of his career.
The Casablancan giant is focusing its attention on the Champions League, to do better than its semi-final, two years earlier, strong in this from the experience of Anas Zniti and Mouhcine Moutouali and the youthful ardor of Mohamed Zrida, Zakaria El -Habti and others and its public.
In addition, more than 40,000 supporters are expected, which will have to exert all its weight to push their team towards the last four.
Rachid Taoussi faces the absence of Marouane Hadhoudi, pillar of the defense of the Greens, who would perhaps be replaced by Mohamed Nahiri.
Nevertheless, the Moroccan technician can count on Mohamed Zrida, Omar Arjoun, Mohamed Makaazi, in the middle, as well as Moutouali, Hamid Aheddad, Benjdida and Habti.
The coach of the Greens, Rachid Taoussi underlined the role of the public, in particular on the mental level, affirming that the Raha nevertheless won all their home matches on behalf of the Champions League.
“The support of the public will be decisive and will push the players to win the ticket for the semi-finals”, said Raja coach Rachid Taoussi.
“Tomorrow we will benefit from broad support from the Rajaoui and Moroccan public. It’s a key factor in winning and reaching the semi-finals.”he said during the pre-match conference.
Taoussi insisted on the imperative of exploiting the goal scored outside to bend the debates in their favor. For his part, the captain of Raja, Mohcine Moutouali, said that his teammates are aware of the responsibility incumbent on them, noting that they will spare no effort in order to reach the four ace of the league of champions.
“The second leg will be diametrically different from the first leg, played a week ago in Cairo”he pointed out, believing that the players must redouble their efforts in order to emerge victorious from this match.
Raja and Al Ahly have faced each other 10 times in recent years. The Egyptians won five times against two for the Greens. Their first confrontation dates back to 1996, during the Arab Cup final won by Al Ahly 3 to 1. The same team won (2-0) a year later in the Arab elite championship.
Raja’s first Champions League title came at the expense of Al-Ahly in 1999 (1-0 first leg victory, 1-1 return leg). The greens did it again in 2002, winning the first leg 2-1 (return: 3-3). In 2005, the two teams met in the group stage and it was Al Ahly who won the first leg in Egypt (1-0), while the second leg ended in a draw (1 -1).
Just before last Saturday’s match, Raja faced Al Ahly in the African Super Cup, won by the Egyptians on penalties (regulation time: 1-1). Friday’s match will be officiated by a Senegalese trio led by Maguete Ndiaye.
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