Morocco’s Zouhair El Moutaraji has handed his team the victory as Wydad Casablanca defeated Al Ahly of Egypt 2-0 on Monday to lift the trophy of the CAF Champions League － completing a Moroccan club double in Africa this season.
Wydad Casablanca’s steading hold of the game mattered as they converted their controversial home advantage to full use, to win Monday night’s intense CAF Champions League final.
Ahly had taken the Confederation of African Football’s choice of Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but lost the case.
A big factor for the Moroccan club side was the noise levels of the Wydad support. A goal soon came from a brace by Zouheir El-Moutaraji in the 15th minute then another in the 48th minute.
Wydad coach Walid Regragui’s defensive structure was evident in the deployment of preying chances created even with far less possession.
Egyptian giants Ahly and their coach Pitso Mosimane were left frustrated in their quest for a record-breaking third successive Champions League title.
There was to be no title No.11 for Ahly. Wydad lifted their third Champions League trophy, adding to 1992 and 2017 victory streak.
Wydad were spurred, and Ahly a touch rattled, by the cauldron as early on the Moroccan outfit made the running, midfielder Yahya Jabrane making an intercept and feeding by Congolese centre-forward Guy Mbenza to turn and crash a drive onto the crossbar.
Wydad got the early goal they would have craved when a stray pass from Ahly centreback Yasser Ibrahim went as far as Aymane Hassouni, who found wing El-Moutaraji to turn, advance and strike a powerful, swerving drive into the top-left corner.
Ahly settled and pushed for an equaliser, their best chance coming as Ali Maaloul’s corner found the free header of Ibrahim, which went inches wide of the upright.
Wydad’s defence was stretched by Ahly’s movement but held to preserve the Moroccan club’s lead to the break.
The home club got the second goal they needed when they needed it — moments back from the break.
Ahly came out pushing but on the counterattack Hassouni picked out the run up the left flank of Jalal Daoudi, whose chip found El-Moutaraji. The forward’s first touch was stopped by Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and El-Moutaraji buried the rebound.
Again Wydad consolidated and again Ahly had possession and chances to get back into the game.