CAF Champions League
CAF LEAGUE TUSSLE: NEW CAS HOPE OPENS FOR MOROCCO’S WYDAD
Moroccan news outlet, Morocco World News has reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), which had previously ruled against Wydad in the seemingly unending EST-Wydad scandal, is considering a new verdict that could back up Wydad’s claims.
The reports speak of “new evidence” that could swing yet another CAS “final verdict” in favour of the Moroccan club.
Wydad’s board was serious when they suggested last month that it would take the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Tunisia’s EST exceptionally solid evidence to make them give up on their struggle to be announced as the “deserving winners” of the 2018-2019 African Champions League.
According to emerging reports, the unearthing of the new body of evidence is giving Wydad hope, weeks after both the “relevant bodies” of the CAF and the CAS ruled that the Moroccan club’s championships claims were untenable because its players refused to resume the match when they were losing 1-0.
The saga began when Tunisia’s EST hosted Wydad in late May for the second leg of the African Champions League final. The Tunisian club was leading by 1-0 when Wydad’s El Karti equalized at the beginning of the second half.
But the referee initially–and wrongly–ruled out the goal for offside. Wydad players protested, asking that the referee use VAR to review the equalizing action.
There followed minutes of hot debates, only for the referee to stop the match more than 30 minutes before the normal timing.
CAF went on to declare EST as Champions, only to change its mind on the following day when “new evidence” suggested that the game had been mired in multiple irregularities, among which a late-minute dysfunctional VAR.
EST’s claims were especially hit by accusations of influence-peddling and a recurrence of deliberate rigging of the VAR system ahead of important games.
While CAF had ruled for a rematch on a “neutral ground,” both clubs felt they deserved to win, with each of them seizing CAS for an independent, final verdict.
That phase of off-the-field legal battles was won by EST. But Wydad vehemently disagreed; until the emergence of new evidence recently, this sounded like the petulance of a bad loser. But the “new evidence” suggest the Moroccan club could be right after all.
Among the new pile of evidence, according to reports, is damning footage indicating that Ahmad, the CAF president, was intimidated and “threatened” by the president of EST minutes before CAF’s first decision to hand the Tunisian the trophy.
Another complaint from Wydad is the “absence of a security mechanism” at the Rades stadium for both Wydadi players and supporters.
Most important in Wydad’s complaint, however, is the VAR argument. The Moroccan club considers that it is unfair that EST took advantage of VAR during the first leg in Rabat and later denied its Moroccan visitors the same opportunity.
In the equally controversial first leg in Rabat, the Tunisian club was only able to sustain the 1-1 draw because, on two occasions–first a goal and then a penalty, both wrongly dismissed–the Egyptian referee of the first leg used VAR to make controversial calls in favour of EST.
Not only was the VAR not functional during the second leg, Wydad has pointed out, but it was only later that both teams were reportedly told that the VAR system had “been deactivated” for the match.
While CAS has “in principle” agreed to review the new evidence and make its final verdict accordingly, it now remains to be seen how CAF will accommodate whatever may come out of another CAS ruling, especially if the prospective final verdict annuls the previous final verdict.
The African body, which is currently undergoing a series of reforms, has already been accused of inconsistency and self-ridicule after taking contradictory stances on the EST-Wydad saga. In the event of a CAS verdict favoring Wydad, the complex circumstances of the scandal suggest the beginning of another long saga of off-the-field arm wrestle between the two clubs.
Nigeria’s flagbearers, Remo Stars, have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after suffering another defeat to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who completed a 7–1 aggregate rout on Sunday afternoon in Pretoria.
The outcome was never really in doubt following the Nigerian champions’ 1–5 loss at home in the first leg in Ikenne last week. The return fixture at Loftus Versfeld Stadium only confirmed the inevitable, as the reigning South African champions sealed qualification to the lucrative group stage with a routine 2–0 win.
Goals from Portuguese forward Nuno Santos in the 20th minute and Namibian talisman Peter Shalulile just before halftime ensured that the “Brazilians,” as Sundowns are fondly called, advanced with ease. The result left Remo Stars outclassed and out of Africa’s elite competition at the second qualifying hurdle.
Despite resting several first-team players, coach Miguel Cardoso’s men showed their depth and intent, dominating proceedings from start to finish. Captain Ronwen Williams and veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango anchored a disciplined backline, while Shalulile’s strike underlined his lethal form and cemented his reputation as one of the continent’s most consistent scorers.
Remo Stars made some attacking forays in the second half, but their efforts lacked precision and composure in the final third. The defeat, though painful, marks another learning curve for the Ikenne-based side in only their second appearance in continental competition.
With fellow South African club Orlando Pirates failing to reach the group stage, Sundowns will now fly their country’s flag alone as they aim for another deep run in the tournament, having finished as runners-up last season.
The draw for the CAF Champions’ League group stage will be held next Monday in Johannesburg, where other African heavyweights will be hoping to avoid a date with the free-scoring Sundowns.
For Remo Stars, attention will now turn to the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs — a second chance to continue their continental adventure.
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Remo Stars head coach, Tiago Conde, says his team remains hopeful of pulling off a football miracle when they face African Football League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the second leg of their CAF Champions League second-round clash on Sunday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The Nigerian champions are staring at a near-impossible task after last Sunday’s 5–1 home defeat in Ikenne, meaning they would need to beat the South African giants 5–0 away to qualify for the lucrative group stage.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Conde insisted that his players are not in South Africa merely to make up the numbers.
“Now we’ll look to make the necessary corrections and improve — to be more efficient, more balanced, and better aligned with the demands of a true Champions League game,” he said.
Despite the heavy deficit, the Portuguese tactician remains defiant and optimistic.
“If my players and I were not prepared or believe that we can win and score five goals and go to the group stage, there is no point in being here,” Conde told Pan Africa Football.
“We trust and believe we can do it. Of course, it’s difficult, but we’ll also make it difficult for Mamelodi Sundowns to score another five goals. It’s 11 against 11 for 90 minutes — we know it’s hard work.”
Conde added that his team had worked on fixing their shortcomings from the first leg.
“What we prepared and want to do is what we tried to do in the first leg, though some things did not happen. Now we’re trying to correct those things and be more effective and balanced — that’s what a Champions League game demands.”
Remo Stars defender Ahmed Akinyele echoed his coach’s optimism, stressing that the team has learned from their mistakes and is ready to fight.
“Like the coach said, we’re here to compete with focus, determination, and the drive to do better than we did in the first leg. We’re ready to give our best and keep improving as a team.”
While overturning a four-goal deficit against one of Africa’s most dominant sides appears highly unlikely, Remo Stars’ spirit of defiance underscores their ambition to leave a mark, regardless of the outcome in Pretoria.
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CAF Champions League
Rivers Flow into CAF Champions’ League Group Stage as First Nigerian Team in Nine Years
Rivers United have made history by becoming the first Nigerian club since 2016 to qualify for the CAF Champions’ League group stage, following a commanding 3–1 victory over Mozambique’s Black Bulls on Saturday in Uyo.
The result saw the Pride of Rivers progress 3–2 on aggregate, overturning a 1–0 first-leg deficit suffered in Maputo last weekend.
Rivers United began with intent and were rewarded in the 15th minute when Wasiu Falolu opened the scoring to level the tie.
Their dominance continued, and just before half-time, Maclyn Biokpo converted from the penalty spot to make it 2–0, putting the Nigerian side ahead on aggregate.
However, the visitors reignited their hopes early in the second half as Moctar Diallo pulled one back for the Black Bulls — a goal that temporarily put pressure on the home side, who faced possible elimination via the away-goal rule.
Rivers United, undeterred, regained their rhythm and sealed victory in the 76th minute when Timothy Zachariah fired in a stunning effort to restore the two-goal cushion and secure a 3–1 win on the night.
The triumph marks a significant milestone for Nigerian club football, as Rivers United become the first team from the country to reach the Champions’ League group stage since Enyimba International achieved the feat nine years ago.
The Port Harcourt-based side will now await the draw for the group stage as they continue their quest for continental glory.
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