Wydad park the bus for victory

MOROCCAN giants Wydad Casablanca are the champions of Africa having secured a 1-0 second-leg win over seven-time winners Al-Ahly in the CAF Champions League final played at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca on Saturday evening. The sides headed into match on the back of a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Cairo last weekend.

After some fine work on the right side by Achraf Bencharki, a well-timed header from 23-year-old Moroccan midfielder Walid Ek Karti found the back of the Egyptian team’s net in the 69th minute, headinmg home Achraf Bencharki’s deflected cross from the right flank, to send the men from Cairo crashing to the silver medal position.

Following the goal, Wydad parked the proverbial bus in front of their penalty area forcing Al-Ahly to adopt a longball attacking strategy.

The game was played in a typically physical style as Al-Ahly went into the match in desperate need of an away goal.

This was the second time that Wydad have been African Champions, having won the Champions Cup in in 1992. They were runners-up to Espérance de Tunis in 2011.

Wydad now qualify to represent Africa at the Fifa Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates from December 6-16.

Both African finalists tasted victory over South African club sides this season. Wydad beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinal stage of the competition, while Al-Ahly accounted for Bidvest Wits in the group stage. – ANA