2008 North African Cup of Champions

The 2008 North African Cup of Champions was the first edition of the competition initiated by the North African Football Union (UNAF). Tunisian side Club Africain were crowned champions after beating Moroccan side FAR Rabat 3-2 on penalties in the final, after both legs ended 0-0.

2008 North African Cup of Champions
Tournament details
DatesDecember 2008 – January 2009
Teams4 (from UNAF confederations)
Final positions
Champions Club Africain (1st title)
Runners-up FAR Rabat

Participating teams
 AlgeriaJS Kabylie (Algerian Championnat National Winners 2007-08)
 EgyptAl Ahly1 (Egyptian Premier League Winners 2007-08)
 LibyaAl Ittihad (Libyan Premier League Winners 2007-08)
 MoroccoFAR Rabat (Botola Winners 2007-08)
 TunisiaClub Africain (Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 Winners 2007-08)

1 Al Ahly will not compete as they have commitments with the Club World Championship in Japan.

Semi-Final

First Legs

Club Africain 2 - 1 Al Ittihad (17 December)

JS Kabylie 1 - 1 FAR Rabat (19 December)

Club Africain 2 – 1 Al Ittihad
Sellami  26'
Ben Yahia  61' (pen.)		 Ellafi  68'
Attendance: 25,000
JS Kabylie 1 – 1 FAR Rabat
Coulibaly  23' Ouchela  48'
Attendance: 15,000

Second Legs

Al Ittihad 1 - 1 Club Africain (24 December)

FAR Rabat 1 - 0 JS Kabylie (26 December)

Al Ittihad 1 – 1 Club Africain
Esnani  14' Ouertani  57'
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Essam Abdelfattah

Club Africain advance to the Final with an aggregate score of 3-2

FAR Rabat 1 – 0 JS Kabylie
Akadar  59'

FAR Rabat advance to the Final with an aggregate score of 2-1

3rd/4th Place Play-Off
Al Ittihad 1 – 1 JS Kabylie
Rahuma  20'
Zubya 90+1		 Bensaid  79'
Referee: Qasim Belnasir

There has been an ongoing feud as to who will take 3rd place. Al Ittihad were originally given 3rd place as JS Kabylie did not play a penalty shootout, as they claim they won the tie on away goals. The Algerian club also said that Ittihad had an unfair advantage playing at home in a one-off match. As a result, CAF will meet on 19 January to discuss the match.

The FNAF later decided that the two clubs would share 3rd place, and therefore share the $75,000 prize fund.

Final

First leg
Club Africain 0 – 0 FAR Rabat

Second leg
FAR Rabat 0 – 0 (a.e.t.)
(2 – 3 pen.)		 Club Africain
Referee: Essam Abdelfattah


2008 North African Cup of Champions Winners

Club Africain
First title

References
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