History-Chasing Gor Land RS Berkane In CAF Confed Cup Quarters
20th March 2019
SportPesa Premier League champions to play Moroccan opposition for the first time ever in their glamorous history
- Gor who finished runners-up in Pool D of the group phase of the secondary continental competition, will play the Morocco domestic cup holders who won Pool A over two legs on April 7 and 14 where the winner on aggregate will advance to the semis
- The SPL winners forced a 2-2 draw in Tunisia before holding on to a 1-1 draw in Nairobi to enter record books and having missed last season's Confed Cup quarters by only a point, Hassan Oktay's side have the opportunity to turn themselves into club legends
- Head coach Oktay will also not be in the dugout after being sent off during the tempestuous encounter at the MISC Kasarani
NAIROBI, Kenya- SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions, Gor Mahia FC will face Moroccan opposition for the first time ever in CAF competition after being drawn to face Renaissance Sportive (RS) de Berkane in the quarterfinal draw of the Confederations Cup on Wednesday evening.
Gor who finished runners-up in Pool D of the group phase of the secondary continental competition, will play the Morocco domestic cup holders who won Pool A over two legs on April 7 and 14 where the winner on aggregate will advance to the semis.
The Kenyan 17-time league winners who joined the Confed Cup after being knocked out in the first round of the CAF Champions League booked their ticket to the quarters last Sunday when they bravely held on to beat 12-time Angolan champions, Petro Atletico de Luanda 1-0 to finish second in their pool behind Egyptian giants Zamalek FC on head to head record after they tied on nine points apiece.
Five-time African champions Zamalek will take on another Moroccan side, Hassania Agadir who finished second to RS Berkane (11) in Pool A on eight points.
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In the absence of holders and Moroccan heavyweights Raja Casablanca from the competition, a new Confed Cup champion will be crowned in May where Gor are hoping to be the first East African side to lift the trophy having tasted continental success for the first and only time in 1987 when they beat Esperance de Tunis on the away goal rules after their two-legged final ended 3-3.
The SPL winners forced a 2-2 draw in Tunisia before holding on to a 1-1 draw in Nairobi to enter record books and having missed last season's Confed Cup quarters by only a point, Hassan Oktay's side have the opportunity to turn themselves into club legends.
Gor will however, do it the hard way to make the semis with their tournament top scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge who has notched five in the competition including the winner from the spot on Sunday in the 56th minute, captain and defender Harun Shakava as well as Ernest Wendo (midfielder) and Shafik Batambuze (wing back) who were red carded in the Petro Atletico victory all suspended.
Head coach Oktay will also not be in the dugout after being sent off during the tempestuous encounter at the MISC Kasarani.
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While no one doubts the pedigree of Gor, RS Berkane are fast making a name for themselves after being promoted to the Moroccan top flight, Botola after finishing second in the second tier Botola 2 during the 2011-12 season.
The 'Oranges' cemented their place in the top flight and after finishing runner-ups in the Moroccan Throne Cup in 2014, finally won the trophy last year.
They have previously finished second in the league (1982-83) and cup (1987) before they were demoted from the top flight.
CAF Confed Cup quarters draw
Nkana FC vs CS Sfaxien
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Etoile Sahel vs Al Hilal Club
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Hassania Agadir vs Zamalek SC
#HUSAZSC
Gor Mahia FC vs RS Berkane
#GMFCRSB
1st Leg - 7th April, 2019
2nd Leg - 14th April, 2019