Al-Hilal vs RS Berkane: Match Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips

Sudan’s Al-Hilal Omdurman welcome Moroccan champions RS Berkane to the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sunday, March 22 for the second leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final.

The first leg ended 1-1 at the Stade Municipal de Berkane, with Abdelrazig Omer firing the Sudanese side ahead in the 13th minute before Mounir Chouiar rescued the hosts from the penalty spot in the 99th minute.

That late equaliser arrived after Al-Hilal defender Steve Ebuela was shown a straight red card for a foul on Hamza El Moussaoui inside the box, a decision confirmed by VAR that has since sparked an official complaint from the Sudanese club to CAF.

With the aggregate score locked at 1-1, everything is still to play for in this decisive return fixture, and Al-Hilal will fancy their chances at what has become their adopted home ground during the ongoing civil war in Sudan.

Match Preview

Al-Hilal Omdurman

Al-Hilal have been one of the standout stories of this season’s CAF Champions League, topping Group C with 11 points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns and MC Alger.

Their group stage campaign included a 2-1 victory over Sundowns at the Amahoro Stadium and a convincing 2-1 opening day win against MC Alger, meaning they have genuine pedigree on this ground.

Domestically, the club have been equally impressive in the Rwanda Premier League, where they sit at the top of the table after a nine-match winning streak that included a 2-0 defeat of reigning Rwandan champions APR FC.

Manager Laurentiu Reghecampf has built a well-organised side that thrives on defensive discipline and devastating counter-attacking football.

The Romanian tactician will be without Steve Ebuela through suspension for this second leg, which is a notable loss at right back given the role Ebuela played throughout the group stage.

Al-Hilal average 2.56 goals per game in the Rwanda Premier League this season and take around 10.2 shots per match, suggesting an attacking output that exceeds what many would expect from a team forced into exile by conflict.

RS Berkane

RS Berkane are the reigning Botola Pro champions and are competing in the CAF Champions League for the first time in their history after winning the Moroccan league title in 2024-25.

They finished second in Group A with 10 points, behind defending champions Pyramids FC, and ended the group stage with a statement 3-0 victory over Nigeria’s Rivers United courtesy of goals from Youssef Mehri and a Paul Bassene brace.

In the Botola Pro, Berkane currently sit sixth in the table with 24 points from 12 matches, recording seven wins, three draws and two defeats.

Their domestic form has dipped slightly in recent weeks, drawing their last two league matches, including a goalless affair against Ittihad Tanger and a 1-1 share of the spoils with Raja Casablanca.

The “Orange Boys” boast a formidable home record in African competition but now face the challenge of travelling to Kigali needing a result to keep their continental dream alive.

Berkane’s top scorers across all competitions this season are Mounir Chouiar and Oussama Lamlaoui, both with eight goals apiece, while Youssef Mehri has contributed six.

Head-to-Head

This is only the second competitive meeting between Al-Hilal Omdurman and RS Berkane, so the head-to-head record remains slim.

The first leg on March 14 ended 1-1, which is the only prior data point between these two clubs.

Al-Hilal will take encouragement from the fact that Abdelrazig Omer’s away goal was the first scored by a Hilal player in the knockout rounds of the Champions League since 2015, a stat that underlines the significance of the result in Berkane.

Berkane had never lost a home match in African continental competition before that first leg, with a record of 44 wins and eight draws from 52 fixtures at the Stade Municipal, which makes Al-Hilal’s performance all the more impressive.

The Sudanese side are two-time CAF Champions League finalists, losing in 1987 and 1992, while Berkane have three CAF Confederation Cup titles but are newcomers to the Champions League stage.

Team News

Al-Hilal Omdurman

The biggest team news for Al-Hilal is the confirmed absence of Steve Ebuela, who will serve a suspension after his red card in the first leg.

Yaser Awad is the most likely candidate to slot in at right back in his place.

Reghecampf is expected to stick with goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo, who produced several important saves in the first leg to keep Berkane at bay for most of the contest.

The back four should feature Ernest Luzolo, Mustafa Karshom, Mohamed Saeed Ahmed and Awad, shielded by Walieldin Khidir and Salaheldin Adil in central midfield.

The attacking trio of Jean Claude Girumugisha, Abdel Raouf and Adama Coulibaly have been outstanding this season and should retain their places behind main striker Mohamed Abdelrahman.

Abdelrazig Omer, who scored the opening goal in the first leg and has four Champions League goals this season, could feature either from the start or as an impact substitute.

Predicted Al-Hilal XI (4-2-3-1):

Ouedraogo; Awad, Karshom, Saeed Ahmed, Luzolo; Khidir, Adil; Girumugisha, Raouf, Coulibaly; Abdelrahman

RS Berkane

Berkane have no major suspensions to contend with and should travel to Kigali with a full-strength squad.

Coach Mouine Chaabani used a 4-2-3-1 formation in the first leg, starting with Anas Zniti in goal behind a back four of Oussama Haddadi, Ismael Kandouss, Abdelhak Assal and Et-Tayeb Boukhriss.

The midfield pairing of Rayane Aabid and Ayoub Khairi anchored the middle of the park, with Mounir Chouiar, Youssef Mehri and Imad Riahi providing creative width behind striker Ayoub El Kaabi.

Hamza El Moussaoui came off the bench and was instrumental in winning the penalty, so Chaabani may be tempted to start him this time around.

Mamadou Lamine Camara and Zinedine Machach are viable alternatives in midfield, and both featured in earlier group stage matches.

Predicted RS Berkane XI (4-2-3-1):

The Managers

Laurentiu Reghecampf (Al-Hilal Omdurman)

The 50-year-old Romanian was appointed in August 2025 and has quickly made his mark on this Al-Hilal side.

Reghecampf brings serious continental pedigree, having led Esperance de Tunis to two CAF Champions League titles in 2018 and 2019 and guided Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal Riyadh to the AFC Champions League final in 2014.

His preferred 4-2-3-1 formation has given the Sudanese side a clear tactical identity, and his ability to organise a resilient defensive unit while deploying rapid wingers on the counter has been key to their success this season.

After the first leg, Reghecampf admitted his side had been wasteful in front of goal but insisted the tie was wide open and that home advantage in Kigali would give his team the edge.

Mouine Chaabani (RS Berkane)

The 44-year-old Tunisian masterminded Berkane’s historic 2024-25 Botola Pro title and has overseen a 63% win rate across 54 matches in charge.

Chaabani also has Champions League experience from his time at Esperance, where he coached before moving to Egypt with Al Masry and Ceramica Cleopatra.

His tactical flexibility has been a hallmark of Berkane’s continental campaign, switching between formations and making bold substitutions when the situation demands it.

His decision to introduce El Moussaoui in the first leg ultimately proved decisive, and that willingness to gamble could be tested again in Kigali.

Tactical Preview

Both sides favour a 4-2-3-1 shape, which sets up an intriguing tactical battle in the middle third of the pitch.

Al-Hilal’s approach in the first leg was textbook Reghecampf: absorb pressure, stay compact and hit with pace on the break through Coulibaly and Girumugisha on the flanks.

That strategy worked perfectly for 89 minutes in Berkane, and the Romanian will likely adopt a similar blueprint at the Amahoro Stadium, knowing a 0-0 draw or any winning scoreline will be enough to progress.

The absence of Ebuela at right back could create a slight vulnerability down that side, and Berkane will look to exploit it by targeting their attacks through Chouiar and the overlapping runs of Haddadi.

Berkane will know they need to score at least once, which plays into Al-Hilal’s counter-attacking strengths and could leave gaps at the back for the likes of Girumugisha and Coulibaly to exploit.

The key tactical question is whether Chaabani pushes his full backs higher from the start or takes a patient approach and builds through midfield, where Khairi and Aabid will need to dictate tempo against the industrious pairing of Khidir and Adil.