- Wydad won the game 3-0 in Casablanca
- They progressed with a 4-0 aggregate score
- They will take on Tunisia’s Esperance in the semis
Three first half goals were enough for Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club as they saw off Nigeria’s Enyimba 3-0 to progress to the final of the African Football League. The three time African champions progressed with a 4-0 aggregate score, having won the first leg 1-0 over the weekend.
Ayoub El Amloud, Jamal Harkass and Moroccan international Yahya Attiyat Allah got the goals for the Red Castle as they soared into the last four.
Adil Rami, the Wydad tactician was delighted with the performance of his team, and said they were deserved winners.
“We played really well from the first whistle and I am really delighted with how organized we were. We took our chances and controlled the tempo of the game. Credit to Enyimba because they really fought well, but we ensured we reduced the danger they posed,” the tactician said.
His opposite number, Finidi George, was gracious in defeat.
“We have picked a lot of lessons and definitely we will come back to this competition a better team. We have a very young squad and Wydad beat us with experience. It was a good platform for my team to get to learn the ropes,” noted the coach.
Wydad controlled the match
Wydad controlled the game from start to finish.
They broke the deadlock as early as the fourth minute, when El Amloud dived in to tap the ball home from close range. Skipper Yahya Jabrane had nodded down a cross, El Amloud flying in to direct it home. The goal had initially been chalked off for offside by the assistant referee, but a review by the VAR officials awarded the goal.
It was a positive start for Wydad and the early goal gave them the chance to settle in and play under less pressure.
They continued dominating and scored twice within five minutes later on, to all but close down the tie. Harkass doubled their lead on the night in the 38th minute on the second bite of the cherry after his initial header off an Attiyat Allah freekick was saved by the keeper.
In the 43rd minute, the left back turned from provider to scorer when he slammed the ball home from inside the box after a precise cutback from Hicham Boussefiane picked out his perfect run into the box.
Wydad finish the job in second half
In the second half, Wydad simply took charge of the game, controlling the tempo and passing the ball around with ease. They had some chances to score, but coulnd’t extend the scoreline.
With the tie seemingly looking secured, Wydad head coach Adel Rami took the opportunity to rotate his squad, pulling out starters like Attiyat Allah and skipper Jebrane to give everyone a taste of the competition.
Wydad have now set up a mouth-watering North African clash against Tunisia’s Esperance in the last eight, the latter having beaten Congolese giants TP Mazembe by the same margin earlier on in the other quarter final duel in Rades.
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