Wydad Casablanca are looking to dethrone the Caf Champions League undisputed giants of Africa Al Ahly when they face off in the final second leg at the Stade Mohamed V on Sunday evening.
But the Cairo Red Devils have never won a Champions League final against Wydad Casablanca. The second leg of the 2023 title match is on Sunday in Morocco.
In 2017, Wydad beat Ahly 2-1 on aggregate, and last year, Zouhair el Moutaraji scored twice to help them win 2-0 in a single-match final in Casablanca.
If the Moroccans beat the Egyptians for the third time this weekend, they will be Ahly’s true enemy, since they have never lost more than once to any other final opponent.
As well as Wydad, Asante Kotoko of Ghana, Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, and Esperance of Tunisia have all beaten Ahly in the finals of Africa’s top club competition.
Last weekend, the latest match in what has become Africa’s biggest rivalry in recent years ended with Ahly taking a slim 2-1 lead on aggregate in front of their fans wearing red.
With five minutes left in regular time and two goals by South Africans Percy Tau and Mahmoud Kahraba, things were looking good for Ahly.
Wydad knew that an away goal could make a final that was getting away from them into a nail-biter, and Saifeddine Bouhra turned out to be their unlikely hero.
The substitute had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box and smashed it into the goal.
Wydad will become the first team to win back-to-back titles if they win 1-0 at home and win on away goals. This is because they won’t need to score at least two goals in Morocco to tie the score.
“That away goal could make a huge difference,” said Belgium-born Wydad coach Sven Vandenbroeck, the fourth occupant this season of one of the ‘hottest’ coaching seats in Africa.
“Trailing by two goals late in the second half, we were in big trouble. Saifeddine changed the complexion of the final.
“Naturally, I wanted to win in Cairo, but I am not unhappy with a 2-1 scoreline. It has opened the door to glory and we must take full advantage.
“I am in charge of a disciplined, united group. I hope we will be rewarded by becoming African champions again.”
When Wydad plays Ahly in the Champions League finals, they play their best. Last Sunday’s loss in Cairo was the first time in four meetings that Wydad lost.
When it comes to group and semi-final games, Ahly has a clear advantage, winning four, drawing three, and losing only one.
Marcel Koller, the coach of Ahly, agreed with Vandenbroeck about how important it is to score goals on the road.
“I am convinced we can score in Casablanca.
“We conceded at home because the team momentarily forgot what we stressed at half-time — retain possession if two goals ahead with time ticking away,” added the Swiss.
Kahraba, Tau, and Hussein el Shahat, who have scored 15 goals between them, are looking for more in Morocco. Wydad can take comfort in the fact that they have kept clean sheets in all six Champions League games they have played at home.
They did this despite Ahmed Tagnaouti being out for a long time with an injury, but Youssef el Motie is proving to be a very good replacement.
Ahly had to use Ahmed Shobeir, their third-choice custodian, in the first leg because of injuries, and he did a great job. However, Mohamed el Shenawy, their first-choice custodian, has returned to training and could start.
Photo by Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix
