Five facts ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup final second leg in Cairo on Sunday, with hosts Zamalek of Egypt trailing Renaissance Berkane of Morocco 2-1 on aggregate:
Zamalek almost came unstuck in a qualifier for the group stage, trailing minnows Arta Solar from Djibouti 3-0 on aggregate entering the second half of the second leg in Cairo before scoring four times, including a decisive 90th-minute goal from defender Hamza Mathlouthi.
Berkane also battled to get past the qualifying stage, edging long-time African absentees Bendel Insurance from Nigeria 3-2 on aggregate to secure a group-stage place. Oussama Lamlaoui scored the only goal of the second leg in Morocco just before halftime.
Zamalek have suffered two losses, away to Arta Solar and to Berkane in the first leg of the final, while Berkane boast an unbeaten 13-match record, including nine victories. It is the fifth visit by the Moroccans to Egypt in the competition and they have never won there.
Berkane and Zamalek qualifying for the final was no surprise as north African clubs have dominated the Confederation Cup, winning 15 of 20 finals. Moroccan clubs have been victorious seven times followed by those from Tunisia (five titles), Egypt (two) and Algeria (one).
Renaissance are the third team to take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of a Confederation Cup final. In 2014, Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast then fell 1-0 at Al Ahly of Egypt and lost on away goals. Three years later, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo triumphed by staying ahead on aggregate through a 0-0 draw at SuperSport United of South Africa.