Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca have done the unthinkable holding CAF Champions League defending champions TP Mazembe to a 1-1 draw at their fortress Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Wednesday 20 and effectively knocking them out of the prestigious club championship.

Mazembe needed 3 straight goals to move to the lucrative group phase of the competition after a 2-0 loss to Wydad two weeks ago in Casablanca, but the North Africans never gave way even after conceding before the hour mark through Salif Coulibaly goal.

Ridha Haihouj late equalizer inside the extra time sealed the fate of the five times champions who were out guns blazing in search of a second goal that could have sent the tie to the dreaded spot kicks and given them a 50/50 chance of progressing.

The Coach Hubert Velud’s side relegates to the second tie cup, the CAF Confederations Cup.

Wydad remains a dark horse for Mazembe – they eliminated the DR Congo side at the same stage in 2001 on a technicality when they successfully appealed against Mazembe using an illegible player in the competition.

Wydad joins Zesco of Zambia, E.S Setifienne, Zamlek SC and Asec Mimosas who have also made it to the group stage.

@bonfaceosano

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com