Wydad Casablanca of Morocco are the 2018 CAF Super Cup champions after edging DR Congo’s TP Mazembe 1-0 at Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Saturday.
Amin Tighazoui’s 83rd minute scorcher settled the much anticipated tie to hand the Red Devils their first ever Super Cup trophy after 1992 and 2003 runners-up finishes.
Wydad become the third Moroccan club to win the competition contested between the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup winners after their bitter rivals Raja Casablanca and Maghreb Fez.
Buoyed by a partisan 45,000 crowd inside the Morocco’s oldest stadium, Wydad showed early intent and pinned the visitors in their own half in search of the opener.
Mazembe, who are three times champions had Ivorian goalkeeper Sylvian Gbohouo to thank for his heroic saves to deny marauding Wydad attackers.
Their luck almost melted away when the hosts were deservedly awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute but for the umpteenth time Gbohouo rose to the accession to save the day – punching away El Karti’s kick.
Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe pointed to the spot for the second time in the 57th minute but rescinded his decision after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
The technology was being applied for the first time on African soil.
Wydad breakthrough came in the 83rd minute after Amin curled home a beautiful freekick to send the stadium into frenzy.
With time on their side, the hosts managed the game well to secure the sweet win and revenge for coach Faouzi Benzarti, who lost the competition to Mezembe in 2016 while he was in charge of Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.
For their troubles Wydad pocketed $100,000 while Mazembe took home $75,000.
