At the Accra Sports Stadium, Samartex and Raja Casablanca played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie. Samartex’s striker, Ephson, delivered a brace, but it wasn’t enough to secure all three points as Raja mounted a resilient comeback.

The match started brightly for the visitors, with Raja taking the lead in the 19th minute. Mohamed Zrida capitalized on a well-taken corner, expertly heading the ball past Samartex’s goalkeeper. The early goal silenced the home crowd and gave Raja the momentum, but Samartex refused to be discouraged.

Pushing forward relentlessly, the home side probed the Raja defense, looking for an equalizer. Just before the end of the first half, their efforts paid off. Ephson scored two goals within 10mins sending the fans into a frenzy as they went into the break with renewed belief.

The second half saw Samartex come out with even more determination, hunting for a killer goal to take control of the tie.

However, Raja Casablanca showed their experience and class, refusing to be defeated. They responded in the 68th minute, with a well-worked attack ending in an equalizer that stunned the Accra crowd. Despite several attempts from both sides to find a winner, the game ended in a stalemate.

Samartex will be left ruing missed opportunities, but their performance gives them hope for the second leg. Raja, buoyed by the away draw, will go into the next round beaming with confidence as they prepare to welcome Samartex to their home turf, knowing that a result in Casablanca could seal their progress.