Everything is going to plan for Cotonsport in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage so far, with a 5-1 destruction of NAPSA Stars looking particularly ruthless to complete their sweep of the Zambian club on Sunday. Now on nine points in Group B, the Cameroonian club are three points ahead of Algeria’s JS Kabylie and four ahead of defending champions RS Berkane. The Moroccan side played to a 0-0 draw in Algeria to keep the fight for second place close.
In the earlier match Cotonsport were commanding in their 5-1 destruction of a lost NAPSA Stars team. Lambert Araina opened the scoring in the 21st minute and then set up Souaibou Marou to make it a two-goal lead before halftime. The Zambian visitors lacked organization in their defense and were no match for Cotonsport’s quick attacks. After holding the deficit to two goals for an extended period, three goals in the final twenty minutes for the hosts reflected a complete breakdown in the NAPSA defense.
Berkane turned in a much improved performance and posed a little more of a threat in open play, but allowed their hosts to escape with a point. JS Kabylie’s attack has come to a bit of a standstill lately and Denis Lavagne’s team did not show any signs of improvement at home. The game was a dry affair with the best chance coming in the second-half off a Berkane corner, seeing JSS goalkeeper Oussama Benbout tip a header over the bar.
Highlights from both games are below. Cotonsport will have an opportunity to clinch their quarter-final spot when they take on Kabylie at home next matchday.
Cotonsport 5-1 NAPSA Stars
JS Kabylie 0-0 RS Berkane
