CAFCL: Referee rescue after Kabylie denied penalty

Rwandan referee was rescued by Algerian police after a vital Group D showdown between JS Kabylie and Moroccan side Raja Casablanca ended in controversy.

The home side was denied a blatant penalty on Friday during a CAF Champions League round four contest which ended in a 0-0 draw.

As a result, JS Kabylie in third behind Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Raja Casablanca with two vital games to go.

TV replays showed the ball hitting the outstretched right arm of a Raja player inside the box. Referee Louis Hakizimana appeared to have a clear view of the incident, but ignored penalty appeals and waved play on three minutes into stoppage time in northern city Tizi Ouzou.

Following the final whistle, furious Algerian players approached the referee, and some were restrained by teammates. Thanks to the Algerian Police, who moved in quickly surrounded the referee and escorted him to safety.

The home side dominated possession but could not open the defence of a Raja side that came to Algeria determined not to lose.

Elsewhere, five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt defeat Zesco United of Zambia 2-0 in Cairo and move closer to the knockout stages from Group A.

Achraf Bencharki netted his fifth Champions League goal this season on four minutes by nodding a cross from fellow Moroccan Mohamed Ounajem past goalkeeper Jacob Banda.

Benchmark created the second goal after 89 minutes for rising star Mostafa Mohamed, who claimed his sixth goal of the African campaign with a tap-in.

Mohamed, who is being compared to Egyptian legend Hossam Hassan, is second in the scorer’s chart behind nine-goal Karim Aribi from Tunisian club Etoile Sahel.

TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Zamalek have seven points apiece and Zesco and Primeiro Agosto of Angola two each ahead of a clash between the top and bottom clubs in Lubumbashi Saturday.

Maximum points for Mazembe, whose 11 titles make them the second most successful club in CAF competitions, will guarantee a quarterfinals place.

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