Ghana Premier League champions Samartex saw their CAF Champions League journey come to an end on Saturday after a 2-0 defeat to Raja Casablanca in Morocco.
The result sealed a 4-2 aggregate victory for the Moroccan giants, who advanced to the group stage, while Samartex bowed out in their debut African campaign.
The Timber Giants, hopeful after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Accra, struggled to contain Raja on their home turf.
Marouane Zila opened the scoring for the Green Eagles just before halftime, and despite a strong effort from Samartex under coach Nurudeen Amadu, they couldn’t find the equaliser.
Raja sealed their victory with an 88th-minute goal from Naoufel Zerhouni, ending Samartex’s hopes of progressing in the competition. Despite the defeat, the club remains optimistic, reflecting on the valuable experience gained.
“This experience, though disappointing, offers numerous lessons that we can use to improve and strengthen our performance in the future,” the club said in a social media statement.
Club President Dr. Richard Kwaku Duah Nsenkyire also offered words of encouragement to the team after the match, praising their efforts despite the result.
Samartex will now shift their focus back to the Ghana Premier League, with key matches against Bibiani Gold Stars and Medeama SC on the horizon.
The team aims to defend their domestic title and earn another shot at African competition next season.
