Sekhukhune United were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup group stages after a goalless draw with Morocco’s RS Berkane on Sunday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Sekhukhune United 0-0 Berkane
Date: 25 February 2024
Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Babina Noko started goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare, Miguel Dias, Katlego Mohamme, Larry Bwalya and Maloisane Mokhele after their penalty shoot-out win over Highlands Park in the Nedbank Cup.
Not too many openings were presented after the start, as the two teams battled to get ahead of one another and relied heavily on the third-man run through high-balls in-behind.
Sekhukhune stood calm where big man Michael Sarpong made use of his imposing frame in the area to unsettle the Moroccan outfit and cause grave uncertainty.
However, Babina Noko were reduced to ten players five minutes to halftime after Jamie Webber lashed out rather untimely at Yassine Labhiri and gave the man in the middle no choice but to show a red card.
A triple change were made by coach Lehlohonolo Seema before the resumption, as Sibusiso Vilakazi, Lehlohonolo Mtshali and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya came on.
Vilakazi had a chance to make the deadlock from a free-kick on the edge of the area, but the well-established figure dragged over having just entered.
Berkane didn’t lose their heads however maintained their shape before seeing a rising header from substitute Youssef Zghoudi go wide following a gigantic leap inside the box.
Zghoudi got a clearer chance albeit invitingly in added time when he nicked possession off Dias to go one-on-one with Sangare, but the Sekhukhune shots-topper denied him from point-blank range.
Given the late intensity, the clash finished level as Babina Noko exited the Confederation Cup with a game to spare in the group stages.
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