Ghana Premier League champions Samartex FC were forced to share the spoils with Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic as the two sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Timber Giants started brightly but fell behind in the 20th minute when Mohamed Azrida rose highest to head in a corner, giving Raja an early advantage. Samartex responded in spectacular fashion in the 37th minute, with Francis Gyetuah scoring a stunning acrobatic goal to level the score.
Samartex then took the lead just before halftime, as striker Michael Ephson pounced on a rebound after Isaac Afful’s long-range effort was parried by Raja goalkeeper Anas Zniti, slotting home to make it 2-1.
However, Raja Club Athletic struck back in the second half through Mohamed Boulacsout, who finished a well-worked team move to restore parity at 2-2.
The draw leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca next week. Samartex will need a strong performance on Moroccan soil if they are to progress further in the CAF Champions League, with the away goals and resilience likely to play a decisive role.
The Timber Giants, making their debut in African club football, will look to build on the positives from their first-leg performance while addressing lapses that allowed Raja to equalize.
