Full-time: Raja Club Athletic 2-0 El Kanemi Warriors

Raja Club Athletic made a strong statement in the CAF Confederation Cup with a controlled 2-0 victory over El Kanemi Warriors at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on 24 October 2026. The Moroccan giants paired patient possession with two well-taken goals, while their defence dealt comfortably with the Nigerian side’s counterattacking threat. The three points give Raja an early foothold in the group standings and reinforce their status as one of the competition’s teams to watch.

Match overview

Raja set the tone from the opening whistle, pushing El Kanemi Warriors deep and forcing the visitors into a long defensive block. The home side circulated the ball quickly through midfield, used their full-backs to stretch the pitch, and created the clearer chances before the break. El Kanemi, meanwhile, looked most dangerous when breaking at speed, but they struggled to sustain attacks once Raja recovered their shape.

• Competition: CAF Confederation Cup
• Match: Raja Club Athletic vs El Kanemi Warriors
• Date: 24 October 2026
• Result: Raja Club Athletic 2-0 El Kanemi Warriors
• Venue: Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

Key moments

The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute after a patient Raja move down the right. A low cross was guided into the path of Youssef El Amrani, and the Raja captain adjusted his feet before steering a first-time finish beyond the El Kanemi goalkeeper. It was a goal that rewarded Raja’s control and forced the visitors to emerge slightly more from their defensive shell.

El Kanemi responded with their best spell early in the second half, winning a free kick in a dangerous area and forcing Raja goalkeeper Mehdi El Haddaoui into a sharp save. But Raja weathered the pressure and doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute. Substitute Hamza El Idrissi arrived at the back post to convert a driven ball across the box, giving the home side breathing room and taking the sting out of El Kanemi’s resistance.

The visitors pushed forward late in search of a consolation goal, but Raja’s centre-back pairing stayed compact and protected the clean sheet. A stoppage-time header from an El Kanemi set piece was cleared away, summing up a frustrating night for the Nigerian outfit.

Tactical story

Raja lined up with an aggressive 4-2-3-1 shape, using their midfield double pivot to recycle possession and their attacking midfielders to occupy the half-spaces. The full-backs provided width, allowing the wingers to drift inside and combine with El Amrani. That rotation repeatedly pulled El Kanemi’s midfield out of position and created space for crosses and cut-backs.

El Kanemi Warriors defended in a disciplined 4-4-2 block and tried to spring forward through quick transitions. Their best moments came when they won the ball in midfield and attacked the space behind Raja’s advanced full-backs. However, the final pass was often rushed, and Raja’s recovery runs limited the visitors to manageable chances. Once Raja scored the second goal, the game management from the home side was calm and professional.

Standout players

Youssef El Amrani was central to Raja’s best work, linking midfield and attack and opening the scoring with a composed finish. Hamza El Idrissi made an immediate impact from the bench, while Raja’s goalkeeper Mehdi El Haddaoui produced the key save that preserved the home side’s momentum at 1-0. For El Kanemi, goalkeeper Ibrahim Musa made several important stops and kept the scoreline respectable with a busy performance.

What the result means

The win gives Raja Club Athletic three valuable points and a clean sheet to build on in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. It also extends their strong home form in continental competition and sets a confident tone for the matches ahead. El Kanemi Warriors, meanwhile, will take lessons from their defensive organisation but must find more cutting edge in the final third if they are to challenge for a knockout-round place. The group table remains tight, but Raja’s two-goal margin gives them an early advantage in the race for top spot.