Deprived of striker Adel Beltaib, full-back Ayoub El Amloud, defensive midfielder Michael Agbekpornu and winger Adam Ennafati, Paco Jémez’s Raja Casablanca travel to Ikenne this Sunday for the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Raja Casablanca begin their continental campaign with a depleted squad. According to Afrik-Foot, the Moroccan club travel to the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Nigeria, this Sunday 18 October 2026 to face El Kanemi Warriors in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup. Kick-off is set for 15:00 Moroccan time, 17:00 French time.
Paco Jémez must cope with a wave of major absences. Four players are missing across the attacking, defensive and midfield departments, even though the club are still targeting the group stage of the competition.
Beltaib and El Amloud absent
The first blow concerns Adel Beltaib. The striker is unavailable due to a groin injury and will therefore not feature in the first leg, according to Afrik-Foot. An absence that weighs on the Casablanca attack, already deprived of winger Adam Ennafati, also ruled out.
In defence, full-back Ayoub El Amloud is suffering from a thigh injury and did not travel to Nigeria. His absence for the first leg is confirmed, though the source gives no indication of how long he will be out. Raja will therefore have to find a solution on their flank to hold firm against the Warriors.
Agbekpornu out for both legs
Ghanaian defensive midfielder Michael Agbekpornu has suffered a hamstring injury and will miss both legs of this tie, Afrik-Foot reports.
There is some light, however, in the Raja ranks: Ishaq Zidani has been able to return to training. That gives Paco Jémez an additional option.
On the pitch, Raja are aiming for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, a competition they know well, having won it in 2018 and 2021. Exempt from the initial preliminary round, the Moroccan club are playing in this second preliminary round.
Back to Morocco at the end of October
The return leg of this two-legged tie is scheduled for the following week in Morocco, over the weekend of 23-25 October 2026. In the meantime, Raja will have to manage the first leg in Ikenne with a depleted squad.