Rahimi scores as Raja end Nkana’s 64-match unbeaten home run

Nkana of Zambia surrendered a 64-match unbeaten home record in CAF competitions since debuting 38 years ago after a 2-0 Confederation Cup loss to Raja Casablanca of Morocco on Wednesday.

Star Soufiane Rahimi converted a 47th-minute penalty for the visitors in Ndola and substitute Noah Sadaoui added a second goal with three minutes of regular time remaining.

Rahimi picked up the most valuable player and leading scorer awards when Morocco won the African Nations Championship for home-based footballers in Cameroon last month.

Ahead of the Group D matchday 2 fixture, Nkana had won 45 home matches and drawn 19 in the Champions League, African Cup Winners Cup, CAF Cup and Confederation Cup, scoring 137 goals and conceding 38.

It was the second long unbeaten CAF home record to fall this month with TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic beaten for the first time in 75 matches.

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Nkana coach Kelvin Kaindu had slammed his defence after a three-goal loss to Pyramids in Egypt seven days ago and was fearful of the damage star-studded Raja might inflict.

His concerns proved valid as the Moroccans cast aside poor recent CAF form to win comfortably and share first place with Pyramids, leaving Namungo of Tanzania and Nkana pointless.