The Red Devils won the tie with a 3-2 aggregate score, having recorded a 2-1 victory at home in the first leg in Cairo last weekend.

Abdelmoneim made a brilliant run to the near post, flicking home an Ali Maaloul corner to send the small crowd of Ahly fans into pandemonium.

With the win, Al Ahly wiped the tears from last season where they lost the title to the Moroccan giants 2-0 in the single-legged final at the same venue.

Before Abdelmoneim’s goal, Wydad were headed for a 1-0 win courtesy of Yahya Attiat Allah’s goal and that would have been enough to see them retain the title on the away goal rule, becoming the first-ever Moroccan side to win back-to-back titles.

But, it was the Egyptian side which would leave the Stade Mohamed V Complex with smiles on their faces and the trophy in their hands.

It was a typical feisty North African derby, with chances few, but the battle immense especially in midfield.

Ayoub El Amloud had a sniff at goal for Wydad in the 13th minute when he made a daunting run from his right-back position, drifting into the box, but his eventual shot was tame and an easy collection for the returning Ahly custodian Mohamed El Shenawy.

They however broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Attiat Allah’s freekick from the right curled all the way into the far right. Mohamed Ounnajem’s run towards the ball had thrown the entire defense off guard, allowing Shenawy to be easily beaten.

The tie continued to be dominated my midfield battles with chances fading off.

In the second half, Ahly showed their intention by going full attacking, Ahmed Abdelkader and Mohamed Magdy Afsha coming in for Marwan Attia and Hussein Elshahat who had been closely marked out during the game.

Ahly forced Wydad to play in their own half but were limited in their chances moving forward. For their efforts, they were rewarded 12 minutes to time when Maaloul’s brilliant delivery was flicked home by Abdelmoneim.

The Egyptians would have doubled their tally in added time when Abdelkader won the ball behind the defense, but from a tight angle couldn’t beat Wydad keeper Youssef El Motie who pulled a brilliant double block.

Despite pressure from Wydad with some nerve-wracking set pieces and drop balls, Ahly managed to see off the result and reclaim their title.

The Ghana Premier League champions were hosted in Casablanca in the second leg of the CAF Champions League qualifiers.

The Phobians went into the reverse game with a 1-0 advantage but succumbed to a 6-1 defeat to end the tie 6-2 on aggregates.

Hearts of Oak conceded three goals in the first 20 minutes of the game.

The Moroccans raced to a 4-0 lead by halftime through goals from Msuva, El Hassouni, Dari and Jabrane before adding a further two in the second half, with Patrick Razak scoring the consolation for the 2000 CAF Champions League winners.

The result means Wydad have progressed to the group stages of the competition while Hearts of Oak will now drop to the Confederations Cup.

In the statement issued on Monday, the club admitted they were not close to their best but stressed that it was a good exercise for the technical team and the playing body.

READ ALSO

• CAF CL: Hearts of Oak eliminated with 6-1 defeat to Wydad AC

• Andre Ayew wins first trophy with Al Sadd

“We succumbed to a painful defeat in Morocco because we were nowhere close to our best on the night.

“We know we are capable of a much better performance than we showed in Morocco.

“We apologise to our fans for not making the ultimate dream come true but we believe this is the time that the team needs you most to accomplish the tasks ahead.”

Find the full statement below:

After securing a 1-0 win in the first leg encounter, the Phobians suffered a 6-1 defeat in the return game in Morocco at the Mohammed V Stadium.

Coach Samuel Boadu made just a change in his team that won the first leg bringing on Caleb Amankwah for Frederick Ansah Botchway and also dropped injured Raddy Ovouka.

Wydad broke the deadlock of the game after just two minutes kind courtesy Tanzanian international Simon Msuva who connected El Amoudi’s cross from the right.

Ayman El Hassouni converted a spectacular ground free-kick to make it 2-0 for the home team.

The Moroccans broke again in search of the third but a timely clearance from Mohammed Alhassan saved the situation.

Hearts of Oak came under intense pressure with the players struggling to swing passes together.

Centre-back Achraf Dari with a brave and powerful header from a corner kick got their third goal of the day as they continue to run riots over the 2000 champions.

Goalkeeper Richard Attah rescued the ‘Phobians’ who nearly conceded their fourth by pulling a spectacular double save to stop Simon Msuva on the 33rd minute.

Penalty was awarded to Wydad AC on the 37th minute. Skipper Yahya Jabrane converted neatly to make it 4-0 in favour of the host.

Back from recess, the WACs continued with their pressure which got them their fifth goal in the game through right back El Amoud.

Astonishingly, the scoreline was extended to 6-0 on the 60th minute after Tanzanian international Simon Msuva slotted calmly into the bottom corner to complete his brace.

Hearts of Oak had an opportunity but Daniel Afriyie Barnieh had his long-range strike missing the pole by miles.

Hearts of Oak pulled one back on the 83rd minute. Patrick Razak produced a quick finish after receiving a decent pass from substitute Frederick Ansah Botchway to end the game 6-1.

Wydad have advanced into the money zone of the competition while Hearts of Oak drop into the CAF Confederations Cup.

Hearts, who made the trip to Morocco by making a transit in the Gulf state of Dubai, will be looking to complete the job they started in Accra.

In the first leg, Hearts beat Wydad by a single goal, to gain a slight advantage, and despite their first-leg win, they recognise the challenge ahead.

“They bring in Ghana here, we saw what happened. One thing I believe is when we put in hard work [and] comport ourselves as we did in Ghana here, we are going to carry the day. But I believe in us, we believe in ourselves, the oneness, the understanding.

“If you were privileged to interview one of the WAC players, they will have certified that ‘yes, I’m playing with one of the biggest clubs in Africa’. So we going there I know it’s going to be tough,” Robert Addo said to Joy Sports.

Nonetheless, Hearts have had their difficulties somewhat lessened by CAF, as the confederation directed for the game to be played behind closed doors.

Meaning, the 67,000 capacity stadium will have only the media, players and staff of the two clubs.

The game will be played on October 24.

The Ghana Premier League powerhouse recorded a 1-0 win over the Moroccan club in the first leg tie at the Accra Sports Stadium over the weekend.

With the team scheduled to leave the shores of Ghana on Thursday, Boadu says his charges will need good officiating to book a place in the group phase of the competition.

“Hearts of Oak will qualify to the group stage of the CAF Champions League with good officiating in Morocco,” he said.

READ ALSO

• Caf CL: Wydad v Hearts of Oak tie to be staged behind closed doors

• Caf CL: Samuel Boadu confident Hearts of Oak will qualify to the group stage

“We have the quality to do that and I am optimistic of a win against WAC in Morocco,” he said.

Striker Isaac Mensah scored the only goal of the game after connecting to an Ibrahim Salifu cross in the first half.

Hearts of Oak will depart Ghana on Thursday. 

The game has been scheduled to kick off at 18:00GMT at the Stade V Mohammed on Sunday.

This was confirmed by the continent’s football governing body, Caf on Tuesday.

The Moroccan club will host the Ghana Premier League champions at the King Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, and the 67,000 capacity seating stadium will have zero fans in attendance.

Hearts of Oak go into the encounter with a slight advantage, after beating their Moroccan counterparts 1-0 in Accra in the first leg, and seem to have a further advantage after CAF’s ruling which was inspired by the precarious nature of Morocco’s covid-19 situation.

READ ALSO

• Caf CL: Hearts of Oak record slim win over Wydad in Accra

• Caf CL: We’re optimistic of win – Hearts of Oak board member ahead of WAC trip

Some 2,000 fans were able to attend the 1st leg in Accra Sports Stadium’s 40,000-seater capacity stadium.

The return leg will be played on October 24.

Samuel Boadu and his charges will leave the shores of Ghana on Thursday with a chartered flight.

The game has been scheduled to kick off at 19:00GMT on Saturday.

The centre referee, who officiated the Phobians’ first leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary game against Wydad Atletic Club on Sunday, has come under intense pressure due to some of his decisions.

The Angola referee has been accused of denying the Ghana Premier League champions a penalty opportunity during the game at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Despite the hard-fought 1-0 win, Dr Tamakloe expressed his displeasure due to some of the decisions of the centre referee.

According to him, the Ghana Football Association must lodge a complaint against the centre referee.

READ ALSO

• Caf CL: Hearts of Oak record slim win over Wydad in Accra

• Lil Win aims for Black Stars call up after joining lower-tier side

“My problem was with the referee because he was problematic because there are rules and regulations in this game,” the Hearts of Oak Board Member told Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

“I will suggest that the Ghana Football Association lodges a protest to Caf or Fifa because his performance was bad and awful.

“He is a disgrace to African football. Some of his decisions were poor. We are improving and we expect our referees to also improve because this is what we want in our football,” he added.

Hearts of Oak squeezed out a win with Isaac Mensah’s superb goal in the first half.

The Phobains will travel to Casablanca for the return leg on October 24 on Sunday. The winner of the tie will book a place in the group phase of the Caf Champions League.

The Ghana Premier League champions defeated Moroccan giants in the first leg of the competition at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Striker Isaac Mensah scored a brilliant first-half goal to put Hearts of Oak 1-0.

After a difficult opening first half-hour, where the Phobians came under incessant pressure from the Moroccans, Samuel Boadu’s men turned on the screws in the last ten minutes before the halftime break with a string of fascinating attacking moves.

Ibrahim Salifu, who was voted Ghana Premier League best player last season forced a superb save from the WAC goalkeeper moments after Daniel Afriyie thought he should have had a penalty after being brought down by Tagnatoui in goal for WAC.

But it did not take long for Hearts of Oak to sting first. Salifu’s inch-perfect cross from the left was connected on the volley from 6 yards out by Isaac Mensah, sending the 2,000 approved fans in the Accra Stadium into a rupture.

The second half started much the same way the first ended; with Hearts of Oak looking to double their lead.

Salifu, again was presented the best opportunity when Kofi Kordzi’s showed strength to fend of WAC defenders before laying the ball onto Salifu but the former Techiman Eleven Wonders midfielder sent his shot flying over the bar from 15 yards out.

Moments later, Kordzi himself then fired a vicious left-footed strike into the near post but Tagnatoui was alert palmed it away from danger.

Victor Aidoo and Agyenim Boateng came on to replace Salifu and Kordzi but could not increase the goal tally for the Phobians.

Late on, WAC found the back of the net but there was sigh of relief when the assistant referee flagged for offside.

Hearts of Oak will immediately turn their attention to the second leg scheduled for next Sunday, October 24 in Casablanca.

The winner of this fixture over two legs will progress to the group stages of the Champions League, while the loser will play in their last round of qualifiers for CAF’s second-tier inter-club competition, the Confederation Cup, for a place in the group stages of that competition.