Calabar clocks full minutes as Napsa fall to Berkane

Kenyan international David ‘Calabar’ Owino clocked ninety minutes as Napsa Stars lost 2-0 to Moroccan giants RS Berkane in a Caf Confederation Cup group stage match played on Wednesday.

The Zambian outfit advanced to the pools for the first time after eliminating Kenyan champions Gor Mahia 3-2 on aggregate in the playoffs.

Consequently, they were handed tough guns in pool B which consists of former Algerian champions JS Kabylie and Coton Sport of Cameroon.

Calabar who joined The Pensioners in January after cutting his six-year-long tie with Zesco United has been a strong tower in the Napsa defense both in the league and continental assignments but his presence was not enough to prevent them from bowing to Berkane.

The match staged at the Stade Municipal de Berkane saw the hosts take the lead through Hamza Regragui in the 12th minute before the experienced Mouhssine Lajour sealed the win at the stroke of half time.

While Calabar who was cautioned in the 67th minute clocked full minutes, another Kenyan who is in Napsa’s books Shaban Odhoji was unused in the match.

Following the win, Berkane who are the defending champions lead the pool with three points, a tally similar to that of Kabylie who saw Coton Sport off by a solitary goal at the Stade du 1ev Novembre. Badreddine Souyad’s late goal was enough to give the hosts the win.

In other matches played, Zambian champions Nkana, home to Harambee Stars midfielder Duke Abuya lost 3-0 away to Pyramids of Egypt in a Group D match. Morocco's Raja Casablanca beat Tanzanian outfit Namungo 1-0.

South African side Orlando Pirates gathered a priceless away point after frustrating ES Setif of Nigeria to a barren draw while Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia proved too good for ACF Jaaraf of Senegal after silencing them 2-0.