ASC Jaraaf registered a 1-0 win over struggling Salitas FC in an CAF Confederation Cup Group C fixture at the Stade Charles de Gaulle on Monday.
Jaraaf made the early running and netted the all-important winning goal in the tenth minute with a good finish from Papa Paye.
Soon after, there was another opportunity when Abou Ndiaye opened things up for Albert Diene, but the attacker failed to make the most of the chance.
The Senegalese club proceeded to produce some neat passages of play, impressing with the simple yet brutally effective rhythm of their passing game.
Paye could have increased Jaraaf’s advantage in the 40th minute, but his goal-bound shot was saved by Salitas goalkeeper Rabin Ousmane Sanon.
Two minutes later, it was again the energetic Paye causing the opposition defence problems, and again it needed Sanon’s intervention to prevent the attacker from adding to the tally.
Salitas were under the cosh for most of the opening 45 minutes, and were fortunate to go into the break just a goal down.
The status quo continued in the second half, with Jaraaf pressing for another goal, while Salitas had to be content with hoping for something on the break.
Mamadou Sylla had a chance to give the home side the lead in the 53rd minute, but the defender steered his header straight at Sanon, who gathered with ease.
Sixty-six minutes in, Omar Kaboré got into a great position to pull the trigger. However, the flag came up for offside and the attack was stopped in its tracks.
Jaraaf continued to put pressure on Salitas’s defence, but he persisted with his quest for a second — bringing on Makhtar Ndiaye for Papa Paye.
Cheick Traore, who was quiet for a large part of the 90 minutes, came close to giving Salitas an equalizer in the 87th minute but his powerful volley from the edge of the area was saved by Arubi.
In the 90th minute, Kalifa Nikièma played a lovely ball into the box from the right, which Traore looked certain to stroke into the net. However, Seydou N’Diaye pulled off the save of the match to deny him.
That save proved decisive as the game finished 1-0 and Jaraaf moved on the top of Group C with seven point while Salitas remained at the bottom of the log with three points.
