1997 CAF Champions League Final

The 1997 CAF Champions League Final is the final of the 1997 CAF Champions League, the 33rd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 1st edition under the current CAF Champions League format.

1997 CAF Champions League Final
Mohamed V Stadium hosted the podium where Raja Casablanca lifted the trophy
Event1997 CAF Champions League
Obuasi Goldfields Raja Casablanca
1 1
pen (4 – 5)
First leg
Obuasi Goldfields Raja Casablanca
1 0
Date30 November 1997
VenueBaba Yara Stadium, Obuasi
RefereeSinko Zeli (Ivory Coast)
Second leg
Raja Casablanca Obuasi Goldfields
1 0
Raja Casablanca won 5–4 on penalties
Date14 December 1997
VenueStade Mohamed V, Casablanca
RefereeLim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

The final is contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Obuasi Goldfields SC of Ghana and Raja CA Casablanca of Morocco. The first leg was hosted by Obuasi Goldfields SC at the Baba Yara Stadium in Obuasi on 30 November 1997, while the second leg was hosted by Raja CA Casablanca at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on 14 December 1997. Raja CA Casablanca won on penalties shootout and it earns the right to play in the 1998 CAF Super Cup against the winner of the 1997 African Cup Winners' Cup. [1]

Qualified teams

In the following table, finals until 1996 were in the African Cup of Champions Club era, since 1997 were in the CAF Champions League era.

Team Region Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Obuasi Goldfields SC WAFU (West Africa) none
Raja Casablanca UNAF (North Africa) 1989

Venues

Len Clay Stadium
Obuasi, Ghana hosted the first leg.

Len Clay Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Obuasi, Ghana. It was opened on 10 May 1990 by the former president of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings. It is home to Ashanti Gold Sporting Club. It has capacity for 20,000 people. The stadium is dedicated to Len Clay, a former Group Engineering and Projects Manager of Ashanti Goldfield Company and supporter of the team.[2]

The stadium was Built under the direct project supervision Of Engineer and Builder J.A.W Cole, who also built the Enyinam Housing Project and Enyinam lodge amongst others and different projects under S.C.C across Ghana.[2]

Mohamed V Stadium
Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco hosted the second leg.

Mohammed V Stadium is part of a big athletic complex situated in the heart of the city of Casablanca, Morocco, in the western part of the Maarif neighborhood. It was inaugurated March 6, 1955, and currently has a capacity of 67,000.

Often hosting the games of the Morocco national football team, the Mohammed V Stadium is equally known as the home of Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca. It is named after King Mohammed V of Morocco.

Mohammed V Stadium is located right in the centre of the city of Casablanca, the international airport of Casablanca is 25 kilometres from the stadium, and the Casa-Voyageurs rail station is 5 kilometres from the stadium. The stadium has a parking lot with a capacity of 1,000 cars.

It currently has a semi-artificial lawn of a high standard.

Road to final
Further information: 1997 CAF Champions League
Raja Casablanca Round Obuasi Goldfields
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Qualifying rounds Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
SONACOS 5–1 3–1 (H) 2–0 (A) First round Junior Professionals 4–2 3–0 (H) 1–2 (A)
Mbilinga FC 4–1 3–0 (H) 1–1 (A) Second round Al-Hilal 3–2 1–2 (A) 2–0 (H)
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
USM Alger 2–2 (A) Matchday 1 Club Africain 0–0 (A)
Primeiro de Agosto 1–1 (A) Matchday 2 Ferroviário Maputo 1–2 (A)
Orlando Pirates 1–0 (H) Matchday 3 Zamalek 3–1 (H)
USM Alger 0–2 (H) Matchday 4 Club Africain 2–0 (H)
Primeiro de Agosto 4–0 (H) Matchday 5 Ferroviário Maputo 4–0 (H)
Orlando Pirates 1–2 (A) Matchday 6 Zamalek 0–2 (A)
Group A Winner
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Raja Casablanca 6 3 2 1 10 6 +4 11
USM Alger 6 3 2 1 9 6 +3 11
Primeiro de Agosto 6 3 1 2 7 9 −2 10
Orlando Pirates 6 0 1 5 5 10 −5 1
Source: rsssf.com
 Final standings
Group B Winner
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Obuasi Goldfields 6 3 1 2 10 5 +5 10
Zamalek 6 3 0 3 7 8 −1 9
Club Africain 6 2 2 2 3 4 −1 8
Ferroviário Maputo 6 2 1 3 5 8 −3 7
Source: rsssf.com

Format

The final was decided over two legs, with aggregate goals used to determine the winner. If the sides were level on aggregate after the second leg, the away goals rule would have been applied, and if still level, the tie would have proceeded directly to a penalty shootout (no extra time is played).

Matches

First leg
Obuasi Goldfields 1–0 Raja Casablanca
Referee: Sinko Zeli (Ivory Coast)

Second leg
Raja Casablanca 1–0 Obuasi Goldfields
  • Nazir  78'
Penalties
 5–4
Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca

References
  1. "Ligue des Champions - CAF - 1997". afrik11.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-13. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  2. Details for Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi. worldstadia.com.
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