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Defender Mohamed Abdelmoneim flicked on a
corner from Ali Maaloul with 13 minutes remaining, with the ball
looping over the home defence and into the corner of the net to
hand the Cairo club a record-extending 11th title.
After losing 2-1 in the Egyptian capital in last Sunday’s first
leg, Wydad had been on course to win on the away goals rule
after fullback Yahya Attiat Allah scored a 27th-minute free kick
to hand the home team the lead in front of an expectant
50,000-strong crowd at Casabalanca’s Mohamed V Stadium.
Wydad were looking to complete a dream season for Moroccan
football, after the heroics of their national team in reaching
the World Cup semi-final in December, but the Cairo club
reaffirmed their status as Africa’s top side after losing to
Wydad in last year’s final.
Al Ahly have now won more than double the number of titles in
Africa’s top club competition than their nearest rivals. This
was their fourth successive final and sixth in the last seven
editions.
Abdelmoneim’s decisive goal came as time was running out and
with Wydad looking firmly in control.
Wydad’s goal evaded the defence as Attiat Allah’s free kick was
missed by both attackers and defenders in the penalty area
before nestling in the back of the net.
Striker Mohamed Ounajem tried to claim a touch but after
watching television replays, officials credited the goal to the
fullback.
Sunday’s final proved a typically testy affair, full of
gamesmanship, repeated bickering with the referee and some
horrendous tackling as the cacophony of noise from the Wydad
fans often reached eardrum piercing decibel levels and created
an intimidating atmosphere.
The smoke from flares set off in the stands caused a temporary
halt midway through the second half before the game resumed
against a backdrop of a green haze.
This season marked a return to a two-legged final after the last
three editions had been decided by a single match.
Wydad had beaten Al Ahly 2-0 in the decider in Casablanca last
year.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Toby Davis)
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