MAT managed to turn the tide to qualify for the first round of the African Champions League. On Saturday, by challenging the Malian team Cercle Olympique de Bamako at the Saniet Rmel stadium for the return leg of the preliminary round of the continental C1, Maghreb Tétouan managed to seal the fate of this encounter with a score of 3 to 0, whereas the first leg had ended with a score of 2 to 0 in favour of the Malians.

A victory with style for the Tétouanais, who were very keen not to relive the unfortunate remake of their continental exit two seasons ago when they were swept aside at the start by the modest Senegalese team Casa Sport.

Pushed by their supporters, the champions of Morocco approached this match at full throttle, seeking to find the flaw as soon as possible in the hope of destabilising Olympique de Bamako, who, as the minutes passed, showed all their limitations and that they were far from having the means to create problems for Sergio Lobera's men.

MAT could not have asked for better, especially Mohcine Iajour, who did not take long to show his intent with an individual action that almost hit the mark. Except that it was only a postponement, because the same Iajour returned to the charge to sign the first goal of the match in the 12th minute from a set piece.

After the opening goal, the MAT players did not let go, trying to level the score over the two matches well before returning to the dressing rooms. Objective achieved thanks to the goal by captain Mohamed Aberhoun in the 26th minute of play.

In the second half, the locals continued to manoeuvre on all flanks while remaining vigilant. A saving tactic, and the 3rd goal could have been from a penalty if Iajour had applied himself well during the conversion. A miss that did not overly affect the Tétouanais, who had to wait until the 80th minute for the inevitable Zouheir Naim to triple the lead and free his partners, who will have to face the Nigerian team Kano Pillars in the inaugural round on 14 March.

As a reminder, the second representative of national football in the African Champions League, Raja Casablanca, was to face the Congolese team Diables Noirs yesterday in Pointe-Noire, also for the return leg of the preliminary round. In the first leg, the Casablancais had won with a large score of 4 to 0.

Furthermore, in the CAF Cup, only FUS, exempt from the preliminary round, will be able to continue the continental campaign to meet the Port club of Togo in the first round.

As for RSB, a newcomer to the event, its passage lasted the time of this preliminary round match. The Berkane club will certainly have regrets following its 1-0 defeat in the final moments of the match against the Malians of Onze Créateurs, a return match played on Saturday at the Modibo Keita stadium in Bamako.

A goal conceded in the 90th minute had the effect of a cold shower on the Berkane players who thought they had their qualification after their 2-1 victory in the first leg. An African Cup match is played until the end, and RSB will have to learn the lesson even if the possibility of a second participation in continental competition does not seem to be for anytime soon.