Wydad Casablanca waltz into semifinals

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Apr 13, 2019. 23:29

Wydad Casablanca have waltzed into the final four of the CAF Champions League after crushing Horoya AC 5-0 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Saturday night.

The Moroccan giants advance by the same aggregate score across the two matches and set up a meeting with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals, set to be played in late April and early May.

Wydad dominated the early exchanges and it was no surprise when they claimed the lead through Walid El Karti in the 20th minute, with the attacker steering a shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye.

That opened the floodgates for the Moroccan hosts, who doubled their lead on the half hour mark through another fine finish from El Karti, before Abdellatif Noussir got in on the act with a goal on 34 minutes to make it 3-0 and effectively end Horoya’s challenge.

The Guinea side looked for an improvement early in the second half when they introduced Patrick Razak off the bench to replace Balaji Simeon Sakin. However, it took less than a quarter hour for Wydad to extend their lead, with Mohamed Nahiri netting goal number four on 59 minutes.

And the scoring didn’t end there, with Zouheri El Moutaraji making it 5-0 to WAC in the 85th minute, sealing an impressive victory which underlines their determination to reclaim the African crown.

Wydad Casablanca (3) 5 (El Karti 20’ 30’, Noussir 34’, Nahiri 59’, El Moutaraji 85’)

Horoya AC 0

Wydad won 5-0 on aggregate

Wydad: Tagnaouti, Noussir, Dari, Camara, Nahiri, Jabrane, Saidi, Ounajem (El Hassouni 78’), El Karti (Tighazoui 62’), El Haddad, El Moutaraji

Horoya: N’Diaye, A. Camara, Samasekkou, Assoko, Yakubu, Nikiema (Mensah 75’), A.P. Camara, Baffour, Simeon Sakin (Razak 46’), Haba, Mandela