IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - CAF
Picture : it was the final of 2022, it will be also the final of 2023 !
Al Ahly, Wydad for second consecutive CAF Champions League Final.
The two-legged finals are scheduled for June 2 & 9 after both teams made it to the ultimate stage over the weekend. Al Ahly of Egypt with the most wins of the trophy hope to pay back their Moroccan opponents and defending champions to whom they lost 0-2 in last year’s final played on May 30 at the Mohemmed V Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Then, as in two previous editions, the final was a one-legged affair until brought back this year by CAF who from the start had gone by the new dispensation.
In a weekend full of excitement, Al Ahly had their job well cut out for them in the second leg semifinals on Friday against Esperance of Tunis they were hosting with a 0-3 first leg situation they had registered away. The 22nd minute lone goal of the game courtesy of Hussein El Shahat provided celebration time for the home fans at the Cairo International Stadium as they qualified for the final on a 4-0 aggregate.
In last night’s cracker at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Wydad Athletic Club, defending champions, were helped by Mothobi Mvala’s 83rd minute own goal to put full time scores at 2-2, allowing the visitors to go through on the basis of the away-goal rule. The goalless first half had reflected the 0-0 first leg until vigilant Themba Zwane seized the chance of a defense blunder to raise the curtains on 50 minutes. That lead was deleted when Ayoub El Amloud benefitted from a Yahya Jebrane 72nd minute assist. Mamelodi Sundowns must have been silently anticipating a final appearance with a 79th minute 2-1 lead through Peter Shalulile’s goal. But then a slip up through the own goal spoilt their party at sunset.