EGYPT’s Al Ahly have been crowned African Champions League winners – again – after beating Wydad Casablanca.
On Sunday night, Africa’s most successful football club won a record-extending 11th continental crown.
A 1-1 draw, with a late leveller on the night, handed them a 3-2 aggregate win over Wydad.
The sides had met in the same fixture last year, when Wydad claimed the title for a third time.
This year, the Egyptians travelled to Morocco with a 2-1 lead from the first leg.
To say the North African derby was a cagey affair, however, would be an understatement.
Prior to kick-off, Wydad supporters queued for hours outside the Mohamed V stadium in Casablanca.
The 60,000-strong crowd provided their side with raucous support from the get-go, whistling deafeningly when Al Ahly were on the ball and roaring their players forward when they regained possession.
Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema was put under extreme pressure after making decisions – several players from either side even made physical contact with him on multiple occasions.
Wydad finally broke the tense deadlock in the 27th minute thanks to a goal from Moroccan international full-back Yahia Attiyat Allah.
The 28-year-old leathered an in-swinging free-kick across the face of the goal and, with the oncoming sea of Wydad players, the opposing goalkeeper was caught flat-footed.
The hosts continued to push to close out the half, but could not add to their advantage.
