Rabat – FAR Rabat secured qualification to the CAF Champions League quarterfinals after holding Al Ahly to a 0-0 draw at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday in the sixth and final round of the group stage.
The match was tense from the start, with both sides struggling to find clear chances. Al Ahly used their home advantage to dominate possession, finishing with 68% of the ball and 16 total shots, but they failed to break down FAR’s defense.
The Moroccan side stayed compact and resisted pressure, earning the point they needed to advance.
The game was marred by an incident when an Al Ahly supporter threw bottles at FAR players. Videos showed one player being struck and injured, but the match continued after a brief pause.
Despite the hostile atmosphere, FAR held firm until the final whistle.
The draw lifts FAR to 9 points, finishing second in Group B behind Al Ahly, who top the group with 10 points. Young Africans of Tanzania end with 8 points in third place, while JS Kabylie of Algeria finish bottom with 3.
FAR’s campaign showed resilience after setbacks. They opened with a 1-0 win over JS Kabylie, then drew 1-1 with Al Ahly at home.
They later beat Young Africans 1-0 in Rabat before suffering their only defeat, a 1-0 loss away to the Tanzanian side.
In their fifth match, they bounced back with another 1-0 win over Young Africans, setting up the decisive clash in Cairo. The final game ended 0-0, confirming FAR’s qualification with 9 points as Group B runners-up.
Across the group stage, FAR managed two wins, three draws, and only one loss, scoring three goals and conceding just two. Their defensive solidity proved crucial, especially against Al Ahly, who created more chances but could not find the net.
With 9 points, FAR now await the quarterfinal draw in Egypt on Tuesday, February 17, to learn their opponent in the knockout stages.
With this qualification, Morocco now has two clubs in the CAF Champions League knockout stage, after RS Berkane’s 3-0 win over Rivers United yesterday. Meanwhile, Wydad secured their place in the Confederation Cup quarterfinals earlier, defeating Azam FC 2-0.
