CR Belouizdad and Wydad Casablanca will battle for a place in the semifinal of the CAF Champions League when they meet in Morocco Saturday night. The return leg semifinal is set for Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, kick-off at 22h00 GMT.
The first-leg game was won 1-0 by Wydad Casablanca thanks to Guy Mbenza’s goal at the Stade du 5 Juliet in Algiers, Algeria last weekend.
Aymane El Hassouni, the Wydad captain, is the star player for the Moroccan side and he will look to lead his side to victory at home.
Wydad have won this tournament two times and they will look to overcome Belouizdad, and go on to win it for the third time.
Walid Regragui, the Wydad coach says they know it will be difficult, but reiterates they will mount a massive challenge to qualify.
“We travelled to Algiers with the aim to win and get closer to the semifinal. It wasn’t easy especially when we had a player sent off. It was a positive result for us and this will now allow us to play the second leg with confidence,” he said.
Belouizdad are looking to force their way into a first CAF club semifinal in their history and also aiming to become the second Algerian team to reach the final four after ES Setif.
The White and Reds will belloking to overrun a 1-0 deficit after they got a reality check in the continental showpiece as they lost to the Moroccans away at home.
Marcos Paqueta, the Belouizdad coach is hoping to beat Wydad espite their recent poor away record, losing three of the last five matches.
“Football is a funny game. We dominated but lost after one mistake. This tie is not finished. We need one goal when we play in Casablanca and I know we have a chance. Wydad are a good team with up to seven professionals in their team but we will face them head on,” said Paqueta.
The aggregate winners will progress into the final and face either Petro du Luanda in the semi final over two legs on 6 and 13 May.
