Zamalek of Egypt secured an away victory in the first leg of their African Champions League semi-final, beating Raja Casablanca 1-0 in Morocco on Sunday night.
A first-half header from Moroccan Achraf Bencharki, a former player of Raja’s city rivals Wydad, was enough to give Zamalek the victory ahead of next weekend’s second leg in Egypt.
His goal in the 18th minute came off a cross from Ahmed Sayed that dipped beyond Raja goalkeeper Anas Zniti.
The overall winners will meet either Wydad Casablanca or Egyptian giants Al Ahly in next month’s final.
Ahly have a 2-0 advantage over Wydad following their first-leg victory in Casablanca on Saturday.
The semi-finals mark a return to continental club football competition in Africa for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown.
