El Kanemi Warriors fought back to secure a 2-2 draw against Raja Casablanca in the first leg of their second preliminary round CAF Confederation Cup clash at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Sunday.
The Nigerian side avoided defeat after Raja Casablanca overturned an early deficit to take the lead, before a late equaliser ensured both teams will head into the return leg on level terms.
El Kanemi Warriors made a bright start to the encounter, taking the lead just six minutes into the game to put the Moroccan visitors under early pressure.
However, Raja Casablanca responded in the 23rd minute, with Nigerian forward Mathias Oyewusi providing the assist for the equaliser as the visitors restored parity.
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Oyewusi continued to trouble the home side and completed Raja Casablanca’s comeback in the 60th minute, finding the net to put the Moroccan giants ahead for the first time in the encounter.
Despite falling behind, El Kanemi Warriors refused to give up and intensified their search for an equaliser as they sought to avoid a home defeat.
Their persistence eventually paid off in the 82nd minute when the hosts found the back of the net to make it 2-2, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture.
Neither side could find a decisive goal in the closing stages, with the contest ending in a draw after an entertaining encounter in Ikenne.
The result sets up an intriguing second leg at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Friday, October 23, where both teams will battle for a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
El Kanemi Warriors will now face the challenge of securing a positive result away from home, while Raja Casablanca will hope to capitalise on home advantage to progress to the next stage of the competition.
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