Sunday | November 5, 2023

The first-leg of the Inaugural African Football League (AFL) final got off to an exhilarating start in Morocco where Wydad Athletic Club beat Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club 2-1 at Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V tonight.

Inspired by the vociferous home crowd, Wydad struck the first blow through an own-goal by Rivaldo Coetzee with 41 minutes on the clock. Sundowns would have relished to see the match go to the break this way.

In the second half, they plucked some courage to mount a fight back notwithstanding Moroccan boisterous noise and flashing lasers. The visitors were awarded a deserved penalty on the 74th minute which Morocco defender Addelmounaim Boutouil slotted in with difficulty after the ball shaved the goalkeeper’s hand.

With the scoreboard reading 1-1, the tension grew in the football arena hosting the newest edition of AFL to the slew of Cup tournaments the Confederation of African Football calendar.

Four minutes from the Boutouil conversion, Wydad upped the ante and Anas Serrhat got their second to make it 2-1 for the home team.

Sundowns had 12 minutes to salvage a draw but fell short. The match ended with Wydad carrying a win to the ultimate final match – the second-leg – in Pretoria, South Africa, the home of Sundowns next week.

Both teams had two shots on target meanwhile Wydad had one more (8) general shots to Sundowns’ seven (7). However, the latter had better ball possession (51%). This came in an away turf. The hosts had a lot to lose playing at home and trying to defend their lean advantage to contain their fierce opponents.