Club Africain overturn deficit to advance

Club Africain player Saber Khalifa (L) fights for the ball with Kampala City Council FC players Ibrahim Kizza (C) Brian Umony (R) during the 2017 CAF Confederations Cup game between Club Africain and Kampala City Council FC at Stade Olympique Rades in Tunis, Tunisia on 07 July 2017 © BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Sep 24, 2017. 22:06

Cub Africain defeated MC Alger 2-0 on Sunday evening to advance into the semifinals of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup.

The victory for the Tunisians in the second-leg, quarterfinal clash at the Olympic Stadium in Rades saw them win the tie 2-1 on aggregate, having been beaten 1-0 by the Algerians in the first leg last weekend.

Club Africain drew first blood when Moataz Zemizemi scored from a penalty just before the midway point of the first half, putting the hosts 1-0 up on the night and leveling the tie at 1-1 on aggregate.

The score remained unchanged for more than 60 minutes of the match - and the tie looked set to go to penalties - until CA grabbed the decisive second goal in the 82nd minute, with veteran Saber Khalifa finding the back of the net.

The 30-year-old’s goal saw Africain move ahead 2-1 overall and clinch a place in the final four of the continental competition.

They will face South Africa’s SuperSport United in the semis, with the first leg set for Pretoria next weekend and the return game in Tunisia on the weekend of October 20-22.

The other semifinal tie will see reigning Confed Cup champions TP Mazembe take on Morocco’s FUS Rabat.