El Motie inspires Wydad to CAF CL semis

by Staff Reporter

Friday Apr 28, 2023. 23:38

Wydad Casablanca edged out Simba SC 1-0 in a CAF Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash at Stade Mohamed V in Morocco on Friday night.

Moroccan giants then secured a 4-3 victory on penalties after the tie ended in a 1-1 draw on aggregate and Wydad will now face either South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns or CR Belouizdad of Algeria in the semi-finals next month.

The Red Castle looked like a team determined to grab an early goal in the opening exchanges as they attacked in numbers and managed to score in the 24th minute.

Bouly Junior Sambou was the man who hit the back of the net to hand Wydad a 1-0 lead as the reigning African champions league leveled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate.

The hosts were leading 1-0 during the half-time break thanks Sambou’s 18th goal of the season.

The Red Castle continued to control the game after the restart, but they couldn’t keep their attempts on target as Yahya Jabrane fired over the crossbar in the 62nd minute.

Simba head coach Roberto Oliveira ‘Robertinho’ decided to introduce club veteran Erasto Nyoni in the 85th minute as the visitors looked to snatch a late equalizing goal.

However, Wydad stood firm at the back and ultimately, the game ended in a 1-0 win in favour of the hosts and the tie had to be decided by a penalty shootout after ending in a 1-1 draw on aggregate.

Youssef El Motie was the hero during the penalty shootout as the lanky goalkeeper denied Saidi Ntibazonkiza and Clatous Chama to earn Wydad a 4-3 win on penalties.

Wydad (1) 1 (Sambou 24′)

Simba (0) 0

Wydad won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate

Wydad: El Motie, Benayada (El Amloud 84′), Aboulfath, Zola, Attiat-Allah, Jabrane, Daoudi (Haimoud 68′), El Hassouni, Bouhra (El Moutaraji 83′), Boussefiane (Ounajem 69′), Sambou.

Simba: Khatoro, Kapombe, Onyango, Baka, Hussein, Kanoute, Mzamiru, Ntibazonkiza, Chama, Kibu (Phiri 90’+6), Baleke (Nyoni 85′).