Walid Regragui Compares His Wydad Casablanca Side to Real Madrid Following CAF Champions League Victory

Walid Regragui Compares His Wydad Casablanca Side to Real Madrid Following CAF Champions League Victory

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:03 PM
In this article:
CAF Champions League logo
CAF Champions League
Africa
UEFA Champions League logo
UEFA UCL
Europe
  • Walid Regragui made comparisons between the UEFA Champions League and CAF Champions League finals
  • Wydad Casablanca coach Walid Regragui believes that his team played like Real Madrid during the final
  • Pitso Mosimane is unhappy with CAF following the CAF Champions League final and threw shade at the organisation

Al Ahly are the Real Madrid of Africa.

That’s how Wydad Casablanca head coach Walid Regragui views the Egyptian side following the CAF Champions League final.

Walid Regragui, Compares, Wydad Casablanca, Real Madrid, CAF Champions League, Victory, Liverpool, UEFA Champions League, Winners, Champions, Trophy, Title
Walid Regragui has compared his Wydad Casablanca team to Spain's Real Madrid after both sides won their respective continental titles. Image: Sebastian Frej/ DAX Images/NurPhoto
Source: Getty Images

Wydad defeated Pitso Mosimane’s charges 2-0 in the final to lift their third-ever title, in front of a roaring and raucous home crowd.

Reflecting back on the triumph, Regragui said that his team played like Real Madrid during the game, while Al Ahly played like Liverpool, iDiski Times reported.

“We were like Real Madrid while Al Ahly were like Liverpool. We gave up ball possession but we defended well and got what we wanted.”

Regragui conceded that the Egyptian team were like the Real Madrid of Africa because they know how to win finals. This made his side’s victory over them even sweeter. He added that his side had watched the UEFA Champions League final and saw what Liverpool did wrong, making sure that they did not make the same mistakes during the game.

Mosimane also shared his thoughts about the final. As reported by Sowetan LIVE, the South African coach felt that the better team lost. He also aimed a jib at CAF, saying that everyone behind the decision got what they wanted.

Mosimane’s comment was in relation to CAF allowing Morocco to host the final despite the fact that a Moroccan side were in the final.

Steve Komphela criticises Al Ahly players for being disrespectful, fans accuse Komphela of being a hypocrite

Al Ahly’s behaviour after the final of the CAF Champions League has not sat well with Steve Komphela. Pitso Mosimane’s charges were beaten 2-0 in the final by Wydad Casablanca.

Following their defeat, Al Ahly’s antics were criticised by Komphela during the trophy presentation.

As reported by iDiskiTimes, Al Ahly players were seen removing their runners-up medals before they left the stage. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Komphela took to Twitter to label the scene as disgusting and call it disrespectful.

Wydad Casablanca crowned champions of Africa after victory against Egypt's Al Ahly in CAF Champions League

Wydad are champions of Africa. The Moroccan side beat Al Ahly 2-0 to claim their third continental title and deny Pitso Mosimane's side a third title in a row.

Wydad dominated the opening minutes of the final and came close to taking the lead as early as the 10th minute when Guy Mbenza rattled the crossbar.

Wydad, spurred on by a deafening crowd, took the lead thanks to a beautiful long-range effort in the 15th minute. Zouhair El Moutaraji unleased a vicious effort from well outside the box that beat Mohamed El Shanawy.

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Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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