El Moutaraji strikes twice as Wydad become African champions

CASABLANCA: Zouhair El Moutaraji was the two-goal star as Wydad Casablanca defeated Egyptian outfit Al Ahly 2-0 on Monday to win the CAF Champions League and complete a Moroccan club double in Africa this season. Renaissance Berkane won the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup on May 20 and will face Wydad for the CAF Super Cup. Wydad coach Walid Regragui promoted El Moutaraji from the bench for the title decider and it proved a masterstroke as he netted after 15 and 48 minutes in Casablanca.

It was the third time Wydad have conquered Africa, winning in 1992 and 2017, and the second triumph also came against Ahly. Ahly, seeking a record third straight title, had plenty of possession but were undone by the clinical finishing of the Moroccans. It was also a disappointing outcome for South Africa-born Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane, who had hoped to become the first coach to win the premier African club competition three consecutive times.

Both Wydad and Ahly showed one change to the sides that drew semifinal second legs against Petro Luanda of Angola and Entente Setif of Algeria respectively to reach the final. France-born Regragui preferred El Moutaraji to Badie Aouk in midfield, with the latter among the nine substitutes. A groin injury ruled out Ahly center-back Mohamed Abdelmonem and Mosimane promoted another Egyptian international, experienced Ayman Ashraf.

Close to 40,000 singing, dancing, cheering, flag-waving Wydad supporters greeted the teams as they entered the pitch, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino among those looking on. Ahly were allocated 10,000 tickets, but only a couple of thousand supporters flew across the north of the continent to attend the highlight of the African club season. The Stade Mohammed V — home