African Champions League at a crossroads after bitter Wydad vs Ahly final

CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

THE biggest news from the conclusion of the Caf African Champions League final at the Stade Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca, Morocco was that it did not end in a farce. Morocco’s Wydad AC won the trophy by beating Egypt’s Al Ahly 2-0 and depriving them of being crowned champions in three consecutive years.

But the story was not the final game. Instead, for weeks, the story focused on a controversial build up that threatened to mar Africa’s premier club competition. The decision by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to hold the final in Casablanca led to an online outcry over this giving a hometown advantage to Wydad, who are from Casablanca.

At one point the hashtag #StopCafCorruption was trending globally because of the venue announcement, with Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane adding to the fray. The Egyptian superclub took the matter to the Court of Arbitration