2008 North African Cup of Champions

The 2008 North African Cup of Champions was the first edition of the competition initiated by the North African Football Union (UNAF). Tunisian side Club Africain were crowned champions after beating Moroccan side FAR Rabat 3-2 on penalties in the final, after both legs ended 0-0.

2008 North African Cup of Champions
Tournament details
DatesDecember 2008 – January 2009
Teams4 (from UNAF confederations)
Final positions
ChampionsTunisia Club Africain (1st title)
Runners-upMorocco FAR Rabat

Participating teams edit

  Algeria JS Kabylie (Algerian Championnat National Winners 2007-08)
  Egypt Al Ahly1 (Egyptian Premier League Winners 2007-08)
  Libya Al Ittihad (Libyan Premier League Winners 2007-08)
  Morocco FAR Rabat (Botola Winners 2007-08)
  Tunisia Club Africain (Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 Winners 2007-08)

1 Al Ahly will not compete as they have commitments with the Club World Championship in Japan.

Semi-final edit

Draw edit

First Legs edit

  Club Africain 2 - 1   Al Ittihad (17 December)

  JS Kabylie 1 - 1   FAR Rabat (19 December)

Club Africain  2 – 1  Al Ittihad
Sellami   26'
Ben Yahia   61' (pen.)
Ellafi   68'
Attendance: 25,000

JS Kabylie  1 – 1  FAR Rabat
Coulibaly   23' Ouchela   48'
Attendance: 15,000

Second Legs edit

  Al Ittihad 1 - 1   Club Africain (24 December)

  FAR Rabat 1 - 0   JS Kabylie (26 December)

Al Ittihad  1 – 1  Club Africain
Esnani   14' Ouertani   57'
Attendance: 35,000
Referee:   Essam Abdelfattah

Club Africain advance to the Final with an aggregate score of 3-2


FAR Rabat  1 – 0  JS Kabylie
Akadar   59'

FAR Rabat advance to the Final with an aggregate score of 2-1

3rd/4th-place play-off edit

Al Ittihad  1 – 1  JS Kabylie
Rahuma   20'
Zubya   90+1
Bensaid   79'
Referee:   Qasim Belnasir

There has been an ongoing feud as to who will take 3rd place. Al Ittihad were originally given 3rd place as JS Kabylie did not play a penalty shootout, as they claim they won the tie on away goals. The Algerian club also said that Ittihad had an unfair advantage playing at home in a one-off match. As a result, CAF will meet on 19 January to discuss the match.

The FNAF later decided that the two clubs would share 3rd place, and therefore share the $75,000 prize fund.

Final edit

First leg edit


Second leg edit

FAR Rabat  0 – 0 (a.e.t.)
(2 – 3 pen.)
  Club Africain
Referee:   Essam Abdelfattah


2008 North African Cup of Champions Winners
 
Club Africain
First title

References edit

External links edit