🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Olympic de Safi eliminated from CAF Confederation Cup after turbulent semi-final
via Le Matin2 min read
Olympic de Safi's continental dream ended in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup after a 1-1 draw against USM Alger. This result, following a 0-0 first leg, led to their elimination due to the away goal rule. The match was marred by hooliganism, including crowd disturbances, provocations, and projectile throwing, which significantly delayed the kickoff. Olympic de Safi coach Chokri El Khatoui expressed frustration over the playing conditions and the officiating, stating, "We were supposed to play the match at 8 p.m., then it was postponed to 9:30 p.m., and we warmed up three times." He also criticized the standard of African refereeing, saying, "With this type of referee in Africa, we will not progress." El Khatoui regretted his team's offensive inefficiency despite creating several clear chances before USM Alger's opening goal. Ahmed Khaldi scored for USM Alger from a penalty in the 45th minute, and Moussa Koné equalized for Olympic de Safi in the 75th minute. This elimination concludes Olympic de Safi's first-ever participation in the CAF Confederation Cup, a campaign that saw them reach the final four. The club now faces a domestic challenge, sitting 14th in the Botola Pro league with 11 points, and must focus on avoiding relegation.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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