Fan dies as crowd trouble mars two CAF Champions League quarter finals

Casablanca authorities have opened an investigation after a fan died outside the gates of the Stade Mohammed V before Raja’s match against Al-Ahly in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday.

Moroccan media reported that the fan, a 29-year-old woman, died in the crush as thousands of fans tried to get into the ground to watch Raja try and overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Egypt. The game ended 0-0.

“Aziz El Badrawy, President of Al-Raja Club Athletic, in his name and on behalf of all members of the club, extends his deepest condolences to the family of the fan, Noura, who passed away before our team’s match against Al-Ahly,” the Moroccan club said in a statement.

Another CAF Champions League quarter-final – also on Saturday – between Esperance and Algeria’s JS Kabylie in Tunis, was marred by crowd trouble, which caused a 40-minute delay to the second half.

Esperance fans clashed with Tunisian security forces and lit fireworks on the terraces at half-time of the tie at Rades Stadium. Firefighters were called out to extinguish several small fires in front of the stands.

Algerian fans also complained that they had been subjected to unjustified attacks by security forces. The match ended in a 1-1, draw but Esperance progressed to the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-0 victory in the first leg.

Sign up to Football Daily

Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football

after newsletter promotion

They will face Al-Ahly over two legs for a place in the final. Raja’s city rivals Wydad, the reigning champions, will face South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the other semi-final next month.