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Fez – Morocco’s Wydad AC has won the CAF Champions League title after beating Egypt’s Al Ahly 2-0 in tonight’s game held at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.
Following tonight’s win, Wydad AC has now added its third title of Africa’s top club competition to its trophy closet.
After a hard-fought road to the final, defeating high-profile African teams in the advanced stages, Wydad AC and Al Ahly emerged as the ultimate teams to contest in the long-awaited final. Consequently, both teams had nothing in mind but to seal the prestigious title.
And with the match tickets being sold out two days ahead of the grueling game, supporters appeared to be waiting with bated breath for one of the most talked-about clashes in recent weeks.
All was hence set for a breathless final match between two of Africa’s best teams.
As is the norm with such finals, the game started slow, with both teams restricted to their defensive duties to prevent conceding an early goal.
As the game progressed, however, both teams began to dust off their defensive retreat and gradually attempted to test each other’s goalkeeper.
Wydad AC, playing in their home stadium, started to dominate the play, occasionally threatening Al Ahly’s defense.
The Moroccan club tested the Egyptian goalkeeper by the team’s striker Guy Mbenza whose long-range shot hit the crossbar, sending a clear message to Al Ahly’s players.
Only a few minutes after this clear chance, Wydad AC’s winger Zouhair El Moutaraji made another spectacular long-range shot in the 14th minute, which, this time, landed in the far end of the net, leaving no chance for El Shenawy to make a save.
The early game opener sent Moroccan fans in a delirious state as happy chants echoed in the stands.
Satisfied with their lead, the Casablanca-based club retreated to defense, giving Al Ahly much space to play in.
The Egyptian team, surprised by the goal, launched in return a full-scale attack on the Moroccan club’s defense. But with Moroccan goalkeeper Reda Tagnaouti putting on an impressive display, Al Ahly’s avalanche of attacking moves yielded no results.
But the Moroccan club was faced with a well-organized and much-experienced Egyptian team.
With this 1-0 lead, the Moroccan players oozed discernible joy and contentment as they headed to the dressing room.
Fresh off the tunnels, Wydad AC pushed hard against Al Ahly’s well-compact defense, launching a full-scale attack in search of a second goal.
The Moroccan club’s players appeared to be much more energized and motivated to keep the CAF Champions League title in Casablanca, fulfilling the aspirations of Moroccan football fans.
In the 48th minute, such aspirations came true as El Moutaraji, the man of the moment, managed to score the second goal after a brilliant cross from Reda Jaadi.
Buoyed by their ecstatic fans, Wydad AC’s squad gained more and more confidence, focusing on quick counter-attacks to break through Al Ahly’s defense.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly appeared to be lost and disoriented as their efforts bore no fruits against a well-compact and much more focused Moroccan squad.
The Moroccan goalkeeper emerged once again as the team’s savior, clearing the Egyptian squad’s unrelenting threats in the last minutes of the game.
The game’s dying moments were decisive for both teams. While Al Ahly attempted to make a late comeback, Wydad AC proved determined to take the title home.
After a four-minute stoppage time, the final whistle sealed Wydad’s quest for another continental triumph, scattering Al Ahly’s hopes to win their 11th African title.
Several renowned figures in world football were present in Uyo to watch the conclusive game, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa.
Read also: Morocco’s RS Berkane Wins Its Second CAF Confederation Cup
