Other Leagues
Double victory for Morocco’s Lekjaa as Renaissance Sportive de Berkane gets a historic triumph in Botola Pro
First, Fouzi Lekjaa coasted home to an overwhelming victory at the election into FIFA Council on Wednesday in Cairo. Three days later, the club he mentored since 2009, before he became the president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has just emerged as Moroccan champions!
Last Saturday, March 15, 2025, will forever be etched in the annals of Moroccan football. Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB) clinched, for the first time in its history, the highly coveted Botola Pro title.
This crowning achievement came during the 25th matchday, where RSB faced Union Sportive de Touarga (UST) at the municipal stadium in Berkane.
With a comfortable 17-point lead over its closest rivals, AS FAR and Wydad de Casablanca, RSB sealed its destiny as national champions.
✅ An Ascendant Journey: From Humble Beginnings to National Glory
Founded in 1938 under the name Association Sportive de Berkane, RSB long navigated the lower divisions of Moroccan football. In 1976, the club adopted the name Union Islamique de Berkane, before merging in 1981 with the local Jeunesse Sportive to become the Renaissance Sportive de Berkane we know today.
Despite some flashes of brilliance, such as a runner-up finish in 1983 and a Throne Cup final in 1987, the club struggled to establish itself consistently among the elite.
✅ The Fouzi Lekjaa Era: A Radical Transformation
The transformation of RSB began in 2009 with the arrival of Fouzi Lekjaa as president.
Under his leadership, the club underwent a profound restructuring, both organizationally and financially.
Lekjaa invested in infrastructure, notably equipping the club with a modern training centre, and attracted major sponsors, ensuring financial stability.
This strategy bore fruit: RSB gained promotion to the second division in 2011, and to Botola Pro the following season. Under Lekjaa’s guidance, the club gradually established itself as a formidable force in Moroccan and African football.
✅ Continental Success and International Recognition
RSB did not just shine on the national stage. The club won the CAF Confederation Cup twice, in 2020 and 2022, and reached the final in 2019.
The municipal stadium in Berkane became an impregnable fortress, where African giants such as TP Mazembe, Club Sfaxien, and Zamalek stumbled.
Additionally, RSB secured the Throne Cup in 2018 and 2022, further solidifying its reputation as a consistent and high-performing club.
✅ The Hakim Benabdellah Era: Continuity and Ambition
In August 2019, Fouzi Lekjaa handed over the presidency to Hakim Benabdellah.
The latter continued the work begun, to make RSB a reference point in Morocco and Africa.
Under his leadership, the club continued its upward trajectory, reaping the rewards of rigorous organization and exemplary management. The Botola Pro title this season is the culmination of these efforts and a testament to RSB’s ever-renewed ambition.
✅ A Promising Future for RSB
This first national title is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new era for Renaissance Sportive de Berkane.
The club now aspires to establish itself on the African stage and to enrich its trophy cabinet.
With solid management, modern infrastructure, and a clear strategic vision, RSB is well-equipped to meet future challenges and continue writing the history of Moroccan football.
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Paul Onuachu is back where the goals flowed after the Nigerian striker completed a 5.6 million euros ($6.60 million) move to Trabzonspor from Southampton on Friday, turning a successful loan spell into a permanent stay on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.
Nicknamed “Tall Paul” by Saints fans, the 2.01-metre forward never found his stride in the Premier League, scoring just four goals as Southampton dropped out of the top flight.
But in Turkey, he looked like his old self — hitting 15 goals in 21 league games while on loan last season and quickly winning over the fans and board alike.
Once prolific at Genk, with 73 goals in 103 league games, 31-year-old Onuachu’s return to Trabzonspor feels more like a reset than a gamble.
The new Super Lig season kicks off on August 8, with champions Galatasaray defending their crown. Trabzonspor, who finished seventh last term, will hope their returning striker picks up right where he left off.
-Reuters
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A celebration turned tragic on Saturday, June 22, 2025, when three spectators lost their lives and more than 70 others sustained injuries following a fence collapse at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers. The incident occurred after MC Alger clinched the Algerian top-flight football title for the second consecutive season.
According to a statement released on Facebook by the Algerian Ministry of Health, the collapse took place in the stadium’s south bend upper stand. Emergency services responded swiftly, with 38 injured fans taken to Beni Messous University Hospital, 27 to Ben Aknoun Hospital, and 16 to Bab El Oued Hospital.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed condolences to the victims’ families and extended wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.
MC Alger also mourned the loss of one of their fans. “It is with great sadness and sorrow that we received the news of our supporter Younes Amguzzi, who passed away after falling from the upper stands,” the club said in a statement posted on Instagram.
The club has not yet issued a formal comment on the additional reported fatalities.
Local media attributed the tragedy to a structural failure, reporting that part of the upper-tier fencing gave way, causing fans to fall into the lower stands. A video posted by El Heddaf TV showed the damaged railing and the chaotic aftermath.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, while MC Alger players, staff, and club officials visited to donate blood in support of the victims. The trophy presentation ceremony was postponed out of respect for the incident.
Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the cause of the collapse and the safety standards at the stadium.
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Libyan football is once again under fire after a highly anticipated derby match between Al-Ahli Tripoli and Al-Ittihad spiralled into chaos on Wednesday evening, forcing an early end to the game and leaving a trail of violence and destruction in its wake.
What was meant to be a showcase of local rivalry quickly turned into a disaster.
The match, part of Libya’s national championship, took a dark turn in the 38th minute when Moroccan midfielder Nawfel Zerhouni curled in a beautiful free-kick to give Al-Ittihad the lead. But the celebrations were short-lived. Tensions flared, players clashed, and a full-blown melee broke out on the pitch.
Things only got worse from there.
Despite being officially designated a behind-closed-doors fixture, fans from both clubs found their way into the stadium and took over the stands. Fights erupted, and the terraces turned into battlegrounds. The referee had no choice but to abandon the match.
The violence didn’t stop at the stadium gates.
Reports suggest that live ammunition was fired at Al-Ahli supporters, and the Al-Ittihad team bus was set ablaze in the aftermath. Shocking scenes like these are a grim reminder of how unchecked football passion can spiral into outright mayhem.
Both clubs reacted swiftly with official statements condemning the violence. Al-Ahli Tripoli and Al-Ittihad called for calm and restraint, stressing the importance of upholding the values of sport. They also urged authorities to launch a full investigation to uncover those behind the violence and ensure accountability.
This disturbing episode comes on the heels of previous controversies involving Libya’s football scene, including the troubled AFCON qualifier against Nigeria and riots during the Libya–Benin Republic match. It raises fresh concerns over the safety and stability of football in the country.
Libyan football is at a crossroads. Whether this serves as a wake-up call or just another chapter in a worrying trend remains to be seen.
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