Wydad Casablanca CAF Champions League WINNERS

A second-half goal from Walid El Karti gave Morocco’s Wydad Athletic a 1-0 home win over Ahly and the African Champions League title on Saturday, denying the Egyptian giants a record-extending ninth triumph.

El Karti made the most of a recurring defensive lapse to power home a header nine minutes past the hour mark in a goal that bore a striking resemblance to Wydad’s first-leg equaliser which saw them hold Ahly to a 1-1 draw in Alexandria.

The solitary goal sparked wild celebrations at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, with Wydad holding on to their advantage to secure their second Champions League title, having won their maiden accolade in 1992.

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Hossam El-Badry has said that his players were more powerful and dangerous than Wydad’s, blaming the referee for the loss.

“Wydad are entitled champions, but not by the performance. They scored from an obvious offside while the referee deprived us of two well-deserved penalties,” the 56-year-old tactician said in the post-match press conference.

“I warned before of refereeing mistakes and we suffered from it in the two legs of the final, but it seems that nobody cares about African refereeing,” he added.

“It’s very sad that African tournaments are being won by referees,” he concluded.

Ahly were denied what would have been their first title since they lifted the last of their record eight trophies in 2013, having struggled to trouble the assured hosts throughout apart from two clear-cut chances in the first half.

Wydad will now play at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi next month.

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