AS FAR Win Second African Women’s Champions League Title
- AS FAR of Morocco defeated SC Casablanca 3-2 in a tightly contested final of the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League on November 18, 2023, in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The match saw two penalties awarded to AS FAR. Fatima Tagnaout opened the scoring for AS FAR in the 38th minute.
- Early in the second half, in the 55th minute, Noura Diarra conceded an own goal, bringing AS FAR level at 2-2.
AS FAR Claims Second CAF Women’s Champions League Title
Table of Contents
Match Summary: AS FAR vs. SC Casablanca
AS FAR of Morocco defeated SC Casablanca 3-2 in a tightly contested final of the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League on November 18, 2023, in Côte d’Ivoire. this victory marks the second time AS FAR has won the competition, equaling the record held by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa as reported by the BBC.
The match saw two penalties awarded to AS FAR. Fatima Tagnaout opened the scoring for AS FAR in the 38th minute. SC Casablanca responded quickly, with Yasmine Mrabet leveling the score just three minutes later.
Early in the second half, in the 55th minute, Noura Diarra conceded an own goal, bringing AS FAR level at 2-2. However, AS FAR were awarded a second penalty in the closing stages after Noura Diarra committed a foul on Sofia Bouftini. Zineb Redouani converted the penalty in the 85th minute, securing the win for AS FAR.
Despite a late push from SC Casablanca,including a shot from Asastasie Gbehi that went wide in stoppage time,AS FAR held on to their lead. Gbehi was afterward sent off after the final whistle for dissent.
Path to the Final and Tournament Context
AS FAR’s journey to the final saw them navigate a challenging tournament bracket. The 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League, held in Côte d’Ivoire, featured the best women’s club teams from across the African continent. The competition aims to elevate the profile of women’s football in Africa and provide a platform for showcasing talent.
Mamelodi Sundowns previously won the title in 2021 and 2022 according to the official CAF website. AS FAR’s victory establishes them as a dominant force in African women’s club football.
next Steps: FIFA Women’s Champions Cup Qualification
With this win, AS FAR has qualified for a playoff match against Wuhan Jiangda of China on December 14, 2023, for a place in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup is a new global competition featuring the champions from each of the six FIFA confederations.
The winner of the AS FAR vs. Wuhan Jiangda match will then face Arsenal, the current European champions, in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup early next year in London.