Skipper Mohsine Moutaouali scored the lone goal of the match as Raja Club Athletic got their Group B campaign of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League off on a flier with a slim 1-0 victory over South African debutants AmaZulu.
The captain scored in the 67th minute with the victory taking Raja top of the group with three points, same as Algeria’s ES Setif who had earlier on beaten Horoya by a similar margin in Conakry.
Raja dominated most of the games with the South Africans choosing to sit back and soak in the pressure.
The home side was denied by the woodwork in the 13th minute when Marouane Hadhoudi rose well inside the box to connect to a cross from the right but it came off the foot of the post. Beni Badibanga picked up the rebound but his effort at goal was deflected for a corner.
In the 27th minute, Raja came close when Moutaouali sent Kadima Kabangu through on goal, but the Congolese’s shot was saved by the keeper for a corner. Kabangu had another opportunity in the 44th minute but once again his shot was kept out by the AmaZulu keeper.
The visitors had a golden opportunity at the stroke of halftime when Makhehleni Makaula picked the ball inside the box, but his shot came off the upright.
In the second half, Raja were faster off the blocks and they got into the lead in the 67th minute when Moutaouali scored with a shot through the keeper’s legs after a beautiful change of passes with Zakaria El Wardi.
The Green Eagles managed to get a good hold of the game after their solitary strike and ensured they saw it till the end to pick three points at home.
Source: CAF