Raja Casablanca may have had to work their way through the 2011 CAF Champions League elimination phases to qualify for the group phase, but they have actually played only four matches en-route to the last eight.
They crushed Tourbillion 10-1 in the first leg of their preliminary round, and the Chad side withdrew before the return game.
In the first round of qualifiers they sneaked past Stade Malien, advancing on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw over the two legs.
In the second round they again survived by the skin of their teeth in a one-off match against Cote d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas. Trailing 1-0 in the dying minutes, Mohsine Moutouali netted a last-gasp equaliser and the Moroccans went on to win the penalty shootout.
The Green Eagles are one of the most successful teams in Champions League history, winning it three times: 1989, 1997 and 1999.
They also appeared in the final in 2002 when they were beaten 1-0 by Zamalek.
Coach Mohamed Fakhir masterminded Raja’s run to the Moroccan Premier League in 2011 and will look to guide them beyond the group phase in an effort to clinch a fourth continental crown.
Zakaria Hadraf of Raja Casablanca on the attack against African Stars during the CAF Confederations Cup 2018/19 game between African Stars and Raja Club Athletic at Sam Nujoma Stadium - Windhoek - Namibia on 12 January 2019 © Helge Schutz/BackpagePix
Salaheddine Bahia of Raja Casablanca and Ambrosius Amseb of African Stars in action during the CAF Confederations Cup 2018/19 game between African Stars and Raja Club Athletic at Sam Nujoma Stadium - Windhoek - Namibia on 12 January 2019 © Helge Schutz/BackpagePix
Ronald Ketjijere of African Stars and Abdelilah Hafidi of Raja Casablanca in action during the CAF Confederations Cup 2018/19 game between African Stars and Raja Club Athletic at Sam Nujoma Stadium - Windhoek - Namibia on 12 January 2019 © Helge Schutz/BackpagePix
Abderrahim Achchakir of Raja Casablanca and Panduleni Nekundi of African Stars in action during the CAF Confederations Cup 2018/19 game between African Stars and Raja Club Athletic at Sam Nujoma Stadium - Windhoek - Namibia on 12 January 2019 © Helge Schutz/BackpagePix
Ambrosius Amseb of African Stars and Imra Fiddi of Raja Casablanca in action during the CAF Confederations Cup 2018/19 game between African Stars and Raja Club Athletic at Sam Nujoma Stadium - Windhoek - Namibia on 12 January 2019 © Helge Schutz/BackpagePix
epa07190081 Raja Club Athletic's Omar Boutayeb (L) in action against AS Vista Club players Fabrice Luamba Ngoma (C) and Djuma Shabani (R) during the CAF Confederation Cup final first leg, soccer match between Raja Club Athletic and AS Vita Club at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, 25 November 2018. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa07190120 Raja Club Athletic's Abdelilah Hafidi (L) in action against AS Vista Club's Fabrice Luamba Ngoma (R) during the CAF Confederation Cup final first leg, soccer match between Raja Club Athletic and AS Vita Club at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, 25 November 2018. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa07190060 Raja Club Athletic's Soufiane Rahimi (R) in action against AS Vista Club's Mukoko Tonombe (L) during the CAF Confederation Cup final first leg, soccer match between Raja Club Athletic and AS Vita Club at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, 25 November 2018. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa07190054 Raja Club Athletic's Mahmoud Benhalib (R) in action against AS Vista Club's Mukoko Tonombe (C) during the CAF Confederation Cup final first leg, soccer match between Raja Club Athletic and AS Vita Club at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, 25 November 2018. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
epa07190059 Raja Club Athletic's Mahmoud Benhalib (R) in action against AS Vista Club's Mukoko Tonombe (L) during the CAF Confederation Cup final first leg, soccer match between Raja Club Athletic and AS Vita Club at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, 25 November 2018. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Raja Club Athletic player SOUFIANE RAHIMI
(L) and Enyimba FC player ISIAKA OLADUNTOYE (R) fight for the ball during the African Confederation Cup match between Raja Club Athletic of Morocco and Enyimba FC of Nigeria, on 24 October 2018 at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco
Raja Club Athletic player ZAKARIA HADRAF (R) and Enyimba FC player ANDREW ABALOGU (L) fight for the ball during the African Confederation Cup match between Raja Club Athletic of Morocco and Enyimba FC of Nigeria, on 24 October 2018 at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco
Raja Club Athletic player ZAKARIA HADRAF(r) and Enyimba FC player ISIAKA OLADUNTOYE (L) fight for the ball during the African Confederation Cup match between Raja Club Athletic of Morocco and Enyimba FC of Nigeria, on 24 October 2018 at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco
Raja Club Athletic player ABDELILAH HAFIDI (R) and Enyimba FC player AUGUSTINE OLADAPO (L) fight for the ball during the African Confederation Cup match between Raja Club Athletic of Morocco and Enyimba FC of Nigeria, on 24 October 2018 at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco
Raja Club Athletic player ABDELILAH HAFIDI (R) and Enyimba FC player AUGUSTINE OLADAPO (L) fight for the ball during the African Confederation Cup match between Raja Club Athletic of Morocco and Enyimba FC of Nigeria, on 24 October 2018 at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco
Ibrahim Mustapha of Enyimba during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup match between Enyimba FC of Nigeria v Raja Club Athletic of Morocco on October 3rd 2018 at Enyimba International Stadium,Aba
© Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora
Stanley Dimgba of Enyimba against Baye Ibrahim Niasse of Raja during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup match between Enyimba FC of Nigeria v Raja Club Athletic of Morocco on October 3rd 2018 at Enyimba International Stadium,Aba
© Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora
Andrew Abalogu of Enyimba evade tackle from Sakaria Hadraf of Raja during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup match between Enyimba FC of Nigeria v Raja Club Athletic of Morocco on October 3rd 2018 at Enyimba International Stadium,Aba
© Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora
Sunday Adetunji of Enyimba against Abdulrahim Achchakir of Raja during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup match between Enyimba FC of Nigeria v Raja Club Athletic of Morocco on October 3rd 2018 at Enyimba International Stadium,Aba
© Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora
Ibrahim Mustapha of Enyimba challenged by Abdulrahim Achchakir of Raja during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup match between Enyimba FC of Nigeria v Raja Club Athletic of Morocco on October 3rd 2018 at Enyimba International Stadium,Aba
© Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora
Abdullahi Hafidi of Raja against Ikoumen Udo of Enyimba during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup match between Enyimba FC of Nigeria v Raja Club Athletic of Morocco on October 3rd 2018 at Enyimba International Stadium,Aba
© Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora
Raja Club Athletic player Moussine Iajour (L) in action against AS Vita Club player Yannick Bangala Litombo (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player (L) in action against AS Vita Club player Chadrack Muzungu Lukombe (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player Omar Boutayeb (25) in action against AS Vita Club player Makusu Mundele (29) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player Abdeljalil Jbira (R) in action against AS Vita Club player Emmanuel Ngudikama (L) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player Saad Lakohal (L) in action against AS Vita Club player Chadrack Muzungu Lukombe (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player (R) in action against AS Vita Club player Chadrack Muzungu Lukombe (L) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018
Raja Club Athletic player (L) in action against AS Vita Club player Munganga Omba (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player Mahmoud Benhalib (LR in action against AS Vita Club player Yannick Bangala Litombo (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018
Raja Club Athletic player Omar Boutayeb (L) in action against AS Vita Club player Chadrack Muzungu Lukombe (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player s in action against AS Vita Club player Chadrack Muzungu Lukombe (C) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Raja Club Athletic player (L) in action against AS Vita Club player Fabrice Luamba Ngoma (R) during the African Confederation Cup 2018 qualifying soccer match between Raja Club Athletic from Morocco and AS Vita Club from Congo at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadiumin Rabat, Morocco, 06 May 2018.
Vivien Mabide of Raja Casablanca during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
Osagouna in action for Raja Casablanca
Bemammer Mohammedali of Raja Casablanca battles Mandla Masango of Kaizer Chiefs during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
Mandla Masango of Kaizer Chiefs battles Salhi Yassine of Raja Casablanca during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
Katlego Mphela of Kaizer Chiefs and Oulhat Mohamed of Raja Casablanca during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
Salhi Yassine of Raja Casablanca and Reneilwe Letsholonyane of Kaizer Chiefs during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
Salhi Yassine of Raja Casablanca battles Mandla Masango of Kaizer Chiefs during the 2015 CAF Champions League football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Raja Casablanca at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 14th of March 2015
©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix
Raja Casablanca
