Moroccan side RS Berkane are the Champions of the CAF Confederations Cup for the second time after a 5-6 victory on penalties over Orlando Pirates in the finals of 2021/22 edition held at Uyo, Nigeria.
The game saw the two sides ending the ninety-minute in a frantic goalless draw but Berkane stepped up with the lead through a penalty converted by Youssef Alfali during the extra time.
After much deliberation with VAR, Berkane were gifted a penalty to change the scoreline.
The South African giants had a lucky equalizer from Thembinkosi Lorch on the 117th minute to level the game but unfortunately, they lost on a penalty shootout after Lorch who scored the equalizer missed his kick from the spot.
Black Stars goalkeeper, Richard Ofori and former King Faisal attacker, Kwame Peprah were in action as the Buccaneers giants tasted a defeat.
Pirates reached the finals after a 2-1 aggregate result against Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya. The Buccaneers travelled to Libya for the semi-final first leg meeting where they emerged 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Innocent Maela and Goodman Mosele at Martyrs of February Stadium.
However, in the return leg at Orlando Stadium, they suffered a 1-0 defeat. On the other hand, Berkane qualified for the final stage after securing a 4-2 aggregate win against TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After losing the first leg 1-0 at Stade TP Mazembe, Berkane, who were the runners-up in the 2019 edition after losing 5-3 on post-match penalties to Zamalek of Egypt, recovered to hammer ten-man Mazembe 4-1 at Stade Municipal de Berkane.
Clubs from Morocco and Tunisia have dominated Africa’s second-tier continental club competition since its launch in 2004, winning 11 of the 18 finals – with Berkane victorious in 2020.
Pirates, meanwhile, won what is now the African Champions League back in 1995 but lost on their sole appearance in the Confederation Cup final in 2015 to Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel.
