On their third appearance at the Arab Club Champions Cup, Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou showed they are eager to make a strong impression in the 2023 edition after thumping Jordanian club Shabab Al-Ordan by a 4-1 score in the first leg of their First Qualifying Round tie on Wednesday. Prolific striker Hemeja Tanjy scored twice and Ousmane Faye provided Nouadhibou’s other two goals at the Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya, helping Le Club Orange overturn an early deficit in style. The two teams will meet again for the second leg in Zarqa, Jordan on April 12.
The home supporters in Nouakchott witnessed a nightmare start when a foul outside their penalty area in the opening minute led to playmaker Waseem Al-Riyayat’s brilliant curled free kick that left Nouadhibou goalkeeper Mahmoud Mbodj with no chance. However the hosts regrouped and began to dominate the match, finding their reward in the 17th minute. A quick counter attack came down the left wing and a cross was misjudged by Shabab keeper Ahmad Juaidi for Tanjy to head into the empty net.
Nouadhibou resumed their dominance after the halftime break with Faye scoring twice in the span of three minutes to put the hosts well beyond reach. The Senegalese forward headed in a 49th minute cross and then smashed in a low shot to leave their Jordanian opposition demoralized. Tanjy added his second of the match in the 82nd minute after sweeping in to win a loose ball and finishing low past Juaidi, giving the Mauritanian champions a strong three-goal advantage before the second leg in Jordan.
Highlights from the match are below.
