ACL: Wydad In Confident Mood, Hopes To Defend Title

Wydad Casablanca of Morocco begins the defence of their African Champions League ACL crown today with coach Faouzi Benzarti confident of back-to-back successes in the elite African club competition.
“There is no reason why we cannot retain the title,” the experienced Tunisian said ahead of a last-32 first leg at home to African rookies Williamsville of Ivory Coast.
Benzarti can draw encouragement from Wydad’s African Super Cup success last month.
The Moroccans dominated the multi-national stars of TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo more convincingly than the 1-0 score-line suggests.
“It is not easy to succeed against a team of the calibre of Mazembe.
“That victory has convinced me that we can win the Champions League again this year,” said Benzarti.
France-born Amin Tighazoui, signed after they edged Al Ahly of Egypt in the 2017 Champions League final, scored the late winner.
Achraf Bencharki, a pivotal figure in Wydad’s last Champions League campaign, has moved to Saudi Arabia while Benzarti has kept faith with most of the team.
Williamsville, whose board members include United States-based former Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba, upset Stade Malien of Mali in the preliminary round, where Wydad had a bye.
Record eight-time African champions Ahly also start with a home fixture, against Mounana of Gabon, who eliminated Rail Kadiogo of Burkina Faso last month.