Fan death, chaos spoil North African CAF Champions League games
Police breaks up infighting amongst Raja fans during the CAF Champions League quarterfinal football match between Morocco's Raja Casablanca and Egypt's Al Ahly at Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco, April 29, 2023. (AFP Photo)


Casablanca authorities have initiated a probe following the death of a supporter outside the entrance of the Stade Mohammed V, just prior to the CAF Champions League quarterfinal match between Raja and Al-Ahly Saturday.

Moroccan media reported that the fan, a 29-year-old woman, died in the crash as thousands of fans tried to get onto the ground to watch Raja try and overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Egypt.

"Aziz El Badrawy, President of Al-Raja Club Athletic, in his name and on behalf of all members of the club, extends his deepest condolences to the family of the fan, Noura, who passed away before our team's match against Al-Ahly," the Moroccan club said in a statement.

Another CAF Champions League quarterfinal between Esperance and Algeria's JS Kabylie in Tunis on Saturday was marred by crowd trouble, which caused a 40-minute delay to the second half.

Esperance fans clashed with Tunisian security forces and lit fireworks on the terraces at halftime of the tie at Rades Stadium. Firefighters had to be called out to extinguish several small fires in front of the stands.

Algerian fans also complained that they had been subjected to unjustified attacks by security forces.

The match ended in a 1-1, draw but Esperance progressed to the semifinals 2-1 aggregate after a 1-0 victory in the first leg.

They will face Al-Ahly over two legs for a place in the final after the Cairo club held Raja to a 0-0 draw in Casablanca.

Raja's city rivals Wydad, the reigning champions, will face South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in the other semifinal next month.