The last semifinal slot in this season’s CAF Champions League was taken by Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco who knocked out Étoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia following a 2-1 aggregate win.
Étoile du Sahel won the second leg 1-0 at the Stade Olympique de Radès in Rades, Tunisia, late on Saturday but the result was not enough to overturn last week’s 2-0 first leg deficit.
The Tunisians, champions in 2007, went all out for a win and dominated proceedings but were thwarted by an inspired Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti in the Wydad goal who made five saves during the match.
Algerian forward Karim Aribi scored the game’s only goal in the 58th minute when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty box and struck the ball into the net. The Tunisians could have increased their lead, particularly through Aribi, were it not for Tagnaouti’s heroics and some wasteful finishing.
With the home side pushing for a second goal late on, Wydad managed to create chances for themselves on the break. The Moroccans hit the crossbar in the 78th minute and three minutes later saw a diving header flash just wide of the far post.
The game came to a controversial end as the Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye blew the whistle for full-time after four minutes of added time rather than the allotted six minutes.
Wydad, winners in 1992 and 2007, will now face eight-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt over two legs in early May for a place in the final which is scheduled to take place on May 29.
The other semifinal will see another battle between an Egyptian club and a Moroccan club as five-time winners Zamalek play against three-time winners Raja Casablanca.
