CAF Champions League

CAF LEAGUE TUSSLE: NEW CAS HOPE OPENS FOR MOROCCO’S WYDAD

Published

6 years ago

October 21, 2019

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.

CAF Champions League

Heartbreak for Al Ahly as Sundowns edge to CAF Champions League final on away goals rule

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Mamelodi Sundowns clinched a dramatic spot in the final of the CAF Champions League after holding Al Ahly to a 1-1 draw in Cairo on Friday night, progressing on the away goals rule.

After a tense 0-0 stalemate in the first leg in Pretoria, it was Al Ahly who drew first blood in the return leg at the Cairo International Stadium.

Taher Mohamed fired the hosts into the lead midway through the first half, smashing home from outside the box after being teed up by the lively Emam Ashour.

Backed by a passionate home crowd, Al Ahly dominated much of the first period and looked on course to finally break their winless streak against the South Africans.

But Mamelodi Sundowns showed their resilience and turned the tie on its head in the closing stages.

With ten minutes remaining, a low cross caused panic in the Ahly defence, resulting in Yasser Ibrahim inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Peter Shalulile.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Egyptian giants and a lifeline for Sundowns, who knew a 1-1 draw would be enough to see them through.

Al Ahly threw everything forward in search of a late winner, with substitutes Achraf Bencharki and Wessam Abou Ali both going close in a frantic finale.

But Sundowns, marshalled superbly by their backline and aided by a bit of fortune, held firm to seal a famous qualification.

It marks a significant milestone for Pretoria-based side, who have now gone nine consecutive matches unbeaten against the record African champions.

Sundowns’ reward is a place in the final, where they will face either Pyramids FC or Orlando Pirates — with the second semi-final set to be decided later.

For Al Ahly, it was a night of bitter disappointment despite their brave efforts, as their dream of a record-extending CAF Champions League title came to a crashing halt at home.

-CAF

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CAF Champions League

Late Mayele heroics send Pyramids into historic first final after five-goal thriller

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Pyramids’ Fiston Mayele celebrates his goal

The Egyptian side Pyramids sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Orlando Pirates in Cairo on Friday night to book their place in the final of the CAF Champions League for the first time in their history.

After a goalless first leg in Johannesburg, both sides came out determined at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, and it was Pirates who struck first when Relebohile Mofokeng slotted home from close range midway through the first half.

The lead, however, was short-lived. Pyramids levelled just before half-time, with Fiston Mayele pouncing on a cross from Mostafa Fathi to restore parity.

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued after the break, and Pirates regained the advantage when Mohau Nkota fired in a superb low drive on 52 minutes.

Yet the Egyptian side showed their resolve in front of their home fans. Ramadan Sobhi rose highest to meet a Mohamed Chibi cross, heading past Sipho Chaine to make it 2-2 just moments later.

The decisive moment came with just six minutes remaining.

After a goalmouth scramble from a corner, Mayele reacted quickest, hammering the ball into the roof of the net to spark wild celebrations among the home faithful.

Despite late pressure from the South African visitors, including efforts from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng, Pyramids held on to secure a famous win and extend their remarkable unbeaten home record to 23 matches.

The result means Pyramids will face Mamelodi Sundowns, who earlier eliminated Al Ahly on away goals, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final.

For Orlando Pirates, it was a brave effort but one that ultimately fell short, ending their hopes of a second CAF Champions League title.

-CAF

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CAF Champions League

Al Ahly, Sundowns brace for Cairo showdown with final spot on the line

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa is challenged by Al Ahly’s Ahmed Reda Hashem in the first leg encounter.

Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns are set for a blockbuster clash on Friday night at Cairo International Stadium as they battle for a place in the final of the CAF Champions League.

With the first leg in Pretoria ending goalless, everything is still to play for in this highly anticipated second-leg encounter.

Despite Al Ahly’s rich history and dominance in African club football, Sundowns have held the upper hand in recent meetings.

The South African giants are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Cairo club, scoring 11 goals and conceding just five in that run.

Al Ahly have not defeated Sundowns since May 2021 and will be looking to overturn that trend on home soil.

The hosts have been rock solid at the back in this season’s Champions League, keeping three consecutive clean sheets.

Their defensive resilience will be key once again, especially against a Sundowns side that has failed to score in its last 216 minutes of continental action.

Peter Shalulile, with three goals to his name in the tournament, remains the Brazilians’ biggest threat up front.

Midfielder Emam Ashour has been pivotal to Al Ahly’s campaign, scoring five times — joint-highest in the competition — and will be expected to spark the attack once more.

Home advantage could prove crucial for the Egyptians.

They are unbeaten in their last six home games across all competitions and boast three wins from four home matches in this CAF Champions League campaign.

Sundowns, meanwhile, have struggled on the road, managing just one win in four away matches this season.

With a place in the final at stake, both sides will be pushing to make their mark in what promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity clash under the Cairo lights.

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