5 talking points ahead of African Champions League final between Al-Ahly, Wydad Casablanca

RIYADH: Forget Real Madrid’s win over Liverpool for now, on Monday night Africa takes center stage as the CAF Champions League final sees defending champions Al-Ahly of Egypt face Morocco’s Wydad AC in Casablanca. Here are five talking points ahead of the big game.

1. Al-Ahly channeling Real Madrid

Al-Ahly are by far the most successful team in the competition’s history with an impressive 10 titles. There is something that the Egyptians have not managed however: To lift the trophy three years in a row. Even the all-conquering team of the first decade of the 21st century never did that.

It really would be a special feat, but it will be far from easy. The game is taking place at the Casablanca home of their opponents, and it is going to be a hostile atmosphere.

Yet the Red Giants have a special pedigree in this competition and are able to pull something out of the bag when it matters. There were struggles in the group stage with back-to-back defeats against Mamelodi Sundowns that had the team on the brink of elimination, but everyone knew that Al-Ahly would bounce back and that is exactly what happened.

The team from Cairo are similar to Real Madrid. They believe that, in their continental competition, they will find a way to win in the end.

2. Mbenza could give Wydad fans perfect goodbye gift

Guy Mbenza is one of the brightest prospects in African football and the 22-year-old is the leading scorer in the Moroccan league. He has also netted three times in the Champions League and has the ability to decide the game, though with Wydad the top scorers in this year’s competition with 20 goals, there are other threats.

On loan from Belgium’s Royal Antwerp, the Congolese star is unlikely to be in Casablanca for much