Sport RS Berkane Clinches CAF Confederation Cup Semi-Final Berth With Steely Resolve Against ASEC Mimosas

RS Berkane’s Grit Pays Off in CAF Confederation Cup Quarter-Finals

RS Berkane have carved out a reputation as a team you just can't ignore on the African stage, and this year’s CAF Confederation Cup campaign has only fueled their rising status. With a 1-0 home win on April 9th against ASEC Mimosas, the Moroccan club wrapped up their quarter-final tie with a 2-0 aggregate. It wasn’t just about winning; it was about their unbreakable spirit. They shut out the Ivorian heavyweights in both legs, squeezing through on the narrowest of margins but looking composed all the way.

Few thought ASEC Mimosas, with their attacking talent and strong form in Ivory Coast’s domestic league, would be held scoreless over two games. But Berkane’s backline stayed organized, snuffed out chances, and let their midfield take control when it mattered. They didn’t just park the bus either. When their chance came, they took it—showcasing clinical efficiency that separates knockout survivors from hopefuls. The clean sheet in both matches sums up a side that’s been drilling the details all season.

The Path Ahead: High Stakes Clash With CS Constantine

Now, Berkane faces a different test as they meet CS Constantine in the semi-finals. Constantine, who have built their own reputation for being hard to beat, promise a game with no hiding places. Berkane's blend of tactical discipline and experience—honed by deep runs in previous tournaments—gives them a certain edge. There’s history on their side, too. Moroccan clubs have often been a thorn in the side of North African rivals, thriving under pressure and finding a way in knockouts.

The other semi-final throws together Tanzania’s Simba SC and South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC, both looking to upset the pecking order. But all eyes in Morocco and large parts of Africa are fixed on whether RS Berkane can keep their run going, perhaps even setting up another shot at continental silverware.

This season's cup run is another reminder that Berkane knows how to get things done when it counts. They’re not the flashiest squad, but they execute the basics with precision—the kind of style knockout football rewards. Their coach’s focus on team structure, mix of experienced leaders and energetic youth, and an unyielding defense now stand just two matches away from booking a trip to the final. Berkane’s journey is far from over, and with their semi-final looming, you get the sense that this campaign might have more chapters to write yet.

Nhlanhla Nl

I am a seasoned journalist with years of experience covering daily news in Africa. My passion lies in bringing light to stories that matter and providing insightful analysis on current events. I enjoy capturing the pulse of the continent and sharing it with the world through my writing.

13 Comments

  • Ravi Roopchandsingh

    Ravi Roopchandsingh

    May 18 2025

    This is total propaganda. 🤔 Berkane didn't win because they're 'gritty'-they won because CAF rigged the refs. You think ASEC didn't score because of defense? Nah. They had 3 goals disallowed for 'offside that didn't exist.' I've seen the footage. The whole tournament is a circus. šŸŽŖ

  • dhawal agarwal

    dhawal agarwal

    May 20 2025

    There's something beautiful about football that doesn't need flash. Berkane reminds me of the old village matches back home-no fancy gear, no sponsors screaming from billboards, just heart and discipline. It's rare to see a team play for the love of the game, not the logo on their chest. šŸŒ

  • Shalini Dabhade

    Shalini Dabhade

    May 21 2025

    Lmao moroccan club? more like moroccan lucky. asec had 12 shots on target and still lost? the ref was probaly drunk on mint tea. this is why africa cant get respect. every time a north african team wins its because of bias or cheating. #AfricanFootballIsCorrupt

  • Jothi Rajasekar

    Jothi Rajasekar

    May 21 2025

    Yessss!! Berkane is the real deal!! šŸ™Œ I’ve been following them since last year’s run and wow-this team just keeps growing! The young guys are stepping up, the captain’s a legend, and the defense? Pure ice. Keep going boys!! We believe in you!! šŸ’ŖšŸ”„

  • Irigi Arun kumar

    Irigi Arun kumar

    May 21 2025

    Let’s be honest here, the entire narrative around Berkane is being manufactured by Moroccan media to distract from their domestic economic issues. You don’t get to the semis by ā€˜discipline’ alone-you get there by having a better budget, better coaching staff, and better access to scouting networks that most African clubs simply don’t have. This isn’t underdog magic, it’s structural advantage disguised as grit.

  • Jeyaprakash Gopalswamy

    Jeyaprakash Gopalswamy

    May 22 2025

    Coach is doing a masterclass here. The way they rotate the midfielders, the pressing triggers, the way they use the wide players to stretch the defense-it’s all so intentional. I’ve watched every game. No fluke. This is football IQ. If you’re not watching Berkane, you’re missing one of the best tactical teams on the continent right now.

  • ajinkya Ingulkar

    ajinkya Ingulkar

    May 24 2025

    You call that discipline? That’s fear. ASEC had talent. Real talent. But they were intimidated. Berkane didn’t beat them-they broke them. And now they’re pretending it’s virtue. Meanwhile, African football is still stuck in the colonial mindset of ā€˜respectable losers’ and ā€˜humble winners.’ This isn’t honor. It’s survival. And they’re selling it as nobility.

  • nidhi heda

    nidhi heda

    May 25 2025

    OMG I just cried watching the last goal 😭😭😭 like… the way the ball curled into the top corner?? The silence in the stadium?? The coach’s face?? I need a fanclub for this team rn šŸ„¹šŸ’– #BerkaneSoul #IWantToMoveToMorocco

  • DINESH BAJAJ

    DINESH BAJAJ

    May 26 2025

    Berkane? More like Berkane-broke. They didn’t win because they’re good. They won because ASEC choked. Anyone with eyes can see that. And now you’re giving them a hero’s welcome? Please. The only thing consistent about them is their ability to win ugly.

  • Rohit Raina

    Rohit Raina

    May 26 2025

    I get why people love this team, but let’s not ignore the fact that CS Constantine is the real threat here. They’ve got a midfield that moves like a single organism. Berkane’s defense might hold, but it’s not built to handle that kind of pressure for 90+ minutes. This semi-final is going to expose them.

  • Prasad Dhumane

    Prasad Dhumane

    May 28 2025

    There’s poetry in how Berkane plays. Not the kind that shouts, but the kind that whispers through perfect tackles and patient buildup. It’s the kind of football that doesn’t need a stadium full of fireworks-it just needs a quiet crowd who knows what they’re watching. Like jazz in a dimly lit room. No one claps until the last note fades.

  • rajesh gorai

    rajesh gorai

    May 28 2025

    The ontological framework of Berkane’s success lies in the dialectical tension between structural austerity and performative resilience. Their defensive matrix operates as a non-linear feedback loop, where individual agency is sublimated into collective synchronicity-a phenomenon observable only in post-colonial sporting epistemologies. The semi-final is not a match-it’s a hermeneutic event.

  • Shalini Dabhade

    Shalini Dabhade

    May 30 2025

    Jothi Rajasekar you’re so naive. This team is lucky. Not disciplined. Luck is what happens when you don’t have money for proper training gear. I’ve seen their home stadium. It’s a dirt field with a fence around it. How is that discipline? That’s poverty.

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