Olympique Khouribga's coach Henri Depireux, a seasoned veteran of triumphs and disasters, could not contain himself and kicked a water bottle in frustration.
That reaction must have been mirrored not only in Khouribga and throughout Morocco, but in many places throughout North Africa.
Deperieux's side had just been eliminated by Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast, one of five triumphs for sub-Saharan African teams over North African opposition.
On past form Khouribga might not have expected to beat Asec, but the Ivorians had sold many of their best players since their quarter-final appearance last season.
All the same one of Asec's new faces, Patrick Kouakou N'doua, scored the away goal which proved enough to turf out Khouribga.
Reigning African champions Etoile du Sahel were huge favourites against Zimbabwe's Dynamos, who at one stage seemed on the point of pulling out of the competition because of financial problems.
Instead Dynamos found the money needed for the trip to Tunisia, and Benjamin Marere scored an historic winner to give them a thoroughly unexpected 2-0 aggregate win.
There were wins too for Cameroon's Cotonsport over JS Kabylie of Algeria, DR Congo's TP Mazembe over Libya's Al Ittihad and Nigeria's former champions Enyimba against Tunisia's Club Africain.
In fact of the North African superpowers that usually dominate this stage of the competition only the Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek qualified for the group stages.
To put that into context last year only Asec represented sub-Saharan Africa in the group stages.
"We've hit the jackpot!"
Both this year and last Al Hilal - from a country, Sudan, that straddles north and sub-Saharan Africa - also qualified.
Asec's coach Patrick Liewig welcomes the about-turn, because he feels it could provide an advantage.
"Last year we were the only team from south of the Sahara in the group stages," he told the BBC.
"It's difficult for North African teams to play in black Africa, they have to have a different mindset."
So does this weekend's results herald a new footballing order on the continent?
It seems unlikely.
North African sides have won the last three Champions Leagues and the last three Africa Cup of Nations too.
North Africa is still where the money is in terms of African club football, and money counts in today's game.
The veteran French coach Depireux believes this is a mere blip.
"If the North African teams didn't qualify this time it's not like that every year," he told the BBC.
"If you look at the teams who do well, it's often Esperance of Tunis or Etoile du Sahel.
"It was an accident this time, but I think North African teams are still the best."
With Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek still in the competition there is still a decent chance a North African side will win the cup.
But sub-Saharan sides have shown they are not just there to make up the numbers.
And making the group stages is good for the balance sheet too.
"We've hit the jackpot!" said a jubilant Liewig.
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