Berkane sink Pirates on penalties to win CAF Confed Cup and maintain Moroccan dominance

Moroccan dominance of the CAF Confederation Cup continued in Nigeria on Friday as RS Berkane beat Orlando Pirates 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time.

AS IT HAPPENED: Orlando Pirates 1-1 RS Berkane

Youssef el Fahli scored his sixth goal of the second-tier African competition for Berkane seven minutes into extra time from a penalty awarded after the referee reviewed a foul on a VAR monitor.

Pirates levelled on 117 minutes when a tame shot from Thembinkosi Lorch evaded everyone in a crowded goalmouth to draw the clubs level.

Berkane scored from all five penalties in the shootout with the decisive fifth converted by substitute Brahim el Bahraoui.   

Moroccan clubs have won a record seven of the 19 editions, including four of the last five with Raja Casablanca and Berkane claiming two titles each. 

Pirates squandered several chances to become the first South African winners of the Confederation Cup in regular time with Deon Hotto the chief culprit.

Pirates' co-coaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi made one change from the side that began a shock 1-0 home loss to Al Ahly Tripoli last Sunday in the second leg of a semi-final they won 2-1 on aggregate.

Out went right-back Abel Mabaso with Bandile Shandu dropping back from midfield to take his place and Kabelo Dlamini coming in to inject more attacking pace.

Berkane showed two changes from the team that triumphed 4-1 at home against TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo to wipe out a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the other semi-final.

DR Congo-born coach Florent Ibenge preferred Mehdi Oubila to Hamza Regragui in midfield and chose Charki el Bahri ahead of Brahim el Bahraoui to lead a three-man forward line.

Both teams donned their traditional colours with Pirates