The Timber Giants maintained their unbeaten streak in the 2024–25 CAF Champions League with a two-all draw with the Moroccan powerhouse at the Accra Sports Stadium.
FC Samartex staged a fightback to secure a point at home against Raja Club Athletic in the first leg tie of the CAF Champions League preliminary round on Sunday afternoon.
The Ghanaian side commenced the game on a good note, but they were unlucky to concede from a corner kick before the half-hour mark.
Newly signed right-back Samuel Tetteh came close to giving the home side the lead in the first minute with a header, but a timely save from goalkeeper Anas Zniti denied him from netting his debut goal.
Raja Club Athletic reversed the earlier intense pressure from the host to force goalkeeper Kofi Baah to make a magnificent save to deny Yousri Bouzouk from scoring in the process.
The visitors opened the scoring at the Accra Sports Stadium through a brilliant header from Mohamed Zrida when he calmly headed in a corner-kick effected by Arassi in the 20th minute of the game.
On the 30th minute, Emmanuel Mamah came close to snatching the equalizer for FC Samartex, but his audacious strike was fisted out by Zniti.
FC Samartex warmed themselves into the fixture after the cooling break with a leveller in the 38th minute courtesy of a wonderful acrobatic strike from Francis Gyetuah.
After Coach Nurudeen Amadu's side had taken over possession to dominate, they came close once again through Richmond Darko, but his attempt went wide.
On the stroke of halftime, when Raja Club Athletic thought of going into the break with a one-all draw, goalkeeper Anas Zniti made another blunder for Ghana U20 striker Michael Ephson to give FC Samartex a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, FC Samartex continued their impressive performance as displayed in the later stages of the first interval, but they failed to defend their lead after the hour-mark.
Raja Club Athletic restored the parity through Mohamed Boulacsout with a fine strike in the 63rd minute of the game.
FC Samartex made a tactical substitution after conceding the second goal with the introduction of Emmanuel Ocran, Abubakar Seidu, Godwin Sefah, and Baba Hamadu as replacements for Solomon Adjei, Emmanuel Mamah, Richmond Darko, and Michael Ephson. It yielded no results for the home side.
In the dying embers, Raja Club Athletic looked dangerous with their attacks, but the back line of the home side dealt with every inroad to end the match in a 2-2 stalemate in Accra.
By: Gideon Kofi Nyamekye, Accra
