CAF Returns To Two Legged Finals for the Champions League and Confederations Cup After Al Ahly Wydad Uproar

CAF Returns To Two Legged Finals for the Champions League and Confederations Cup After Al Ahly Wydad Uproar

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:05 PM
In this article:
CAF Champions League logo
CAF Champions League
Africa
  • The two-legged format for CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup finals is set to return not long after it was shelved
  • This is according to the continent's football governing body Patrice Motsepe as the single-match format proved controversial
  • The case in point was Egyptian giants Al Ahly being set as the home team for the Champions League final against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca surprisingly in Casablanca

CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup finals will revert to type, with a home-and-away format becoming the norm again.

The news was confirmed by CAF president Patrice Motsepe earlier today in Johannesburg.

pitso mosimane, patrice motsepe, caf, two legs, champions league, confederations cup, al ahly, wydad casablanca, morocco
Pitso Mosimane and Patrice Motsepe's relationship was strained over the CAF Champions League being held in just one match, controversially in Morocco for Al Ahly against Wydad Casablanca
Source: UGC

As reported by Soccer Laduma, this was on the back of the furore that surrounded the 2022 CAF Champions League final that was held in Casablanca, the capital of Morocco, at the Stade Mohammed V. The conflict of interest was patently clear, as Wydad Casablanca was the 'away' team, while Egyptian superclub Al Ahly was designated as the 'home' team.

According to The Sowetan, Motsepe, speaking to the South African National Editors Forum said:

Exciting feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

"We're going to fix that. This will never happen again. It's something I inherited and I could not change. The decision was taken before me.
"We'll have a two-legged final because, again, can you imagine the supporters of Al Ahly in Egypt and, of course, my favourite coach, Pitso (Mosimane), and former Ahly coach?"

The last Champions League final that was played over two legs was in the 2018/19 season, when Tunisian side Esperance won under controversial circumstances following the abandonment of the second leg.

Confederation of African Football responds to Pitso Mosimane’s comments, Floyd Shivambu also questions CAF

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have not taken Pitso Mosimane’s comments lightly.

As reported by Sports Brief, the Al Ahly coach made disparaging comments against the organisation following his side’s defeat in the final of the CAF Champions League. Al Ahly were beaten by Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in the final hosted in Morocco.

Speaking after the game, Pitso claimed that ‘the powerful got what they wanted in the end.’

Authors
Keba Mothoagae photo
Keba Mothoagae
Editor- Local Desk
Tags
South AfricaWorld