It is a third time that Wydad have been crowned African Champions after winning in 1992 and 2017, it also stopped Ahly winning a third straight title.

El Moutaraji scored a spectacular opener in the first-half before adding the second just minutes after the break to seal the win for Wydad in front of their own raucous fans who had filled the stadium hours before the match.

The final was controversially hosted at Wydad’s home ground in Casablanca, as fans were allowed in to watch the final for the first time since 2019 after the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Wydad started the stronger and their first chance came in the 10th minute when Congo-Brazzaville striker Guy Mbenza saw his fierce strike from just outside the area hit the bar.

Just four minutes later Wydad took the lead when El Moutaraji cut in from the left wing and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner past Mohamed El Shenawy from 30 yards out, to send the home fans into wild celebration.

The goal sparked the reigning champions into action as they began to dominate possession and pressed the Moroccans when they had the ball.

That domination almost paid off in the 24th minute when Yasser Ibrahim escaped his markers but headed a corner from Ali Maaloul just wide of the post.

Ten minutes later another Maaloul corner was met on the edge of the six-yard box by Taher Mohamed but he could only head wide once again.

Al Ahly began the second-half going forward but it was Wydad who struck first after just two minutes of the second-half.

A counter-attack saw the ball swung in from the right by Ayoub El Amloud which El Moutraji connected with, ahead of Ahly’s Mohamed Hany, his initial shot was parried by Mohamed El Shenawy allowing the Wydad striker to smash home.

For all their possession Al Ahly’s first shot on target did not come until the 73rd minute when substitute Afsha’s shot from outside the area was well saved by Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti diving to his right.

Tagnaouti was called into action again eight minutes later as he saved a close range toe poke from Mohsen Salah before Mohamed Sherif’s follow up was blocked by El Amloud.

The Wydad Casablanca keeper then produced another outstanding stop at the feet of South Africa striker Percy Tau as he raced into the area.

Ahly continued to press but were unable to find a way back into the game much to the delight of the home crowd who celebrated wildly at the end.

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After dispensing with USGN in the preliminary round, Al Ahly struggled through a group stage including Mamelodi Sundowns (who won the group) and the Sudanese pair of Al Merrikh and Al Hilal. The Egyptian giants then took down Raja Casablanca 3-2 in the quarterfinals and really hit their straps with a 6-2 demolition of ES Setif in the semifinals.

The Cairo club is looking to win a record-extending 11th CAFCL title and become the first team to win the African crown for a third successive season.

“If we can make history, it will be a great thing for this club and the players,” said coach Pitso Mosimane. “But we know we are coming up against a very strong opponent and we will have to prepare well.”

Wydad’s path to the final has seen them overcome Hearts of Oak (preliminary round), top their group ahead of Zamalek, Sagrada Esperanca and Petro de Luanda, before narrowly ousting CR Belouizdad 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and then claim a 4-2 triumph over Petro in the semifinals.

The Moroccan club is a two-time CAFCL winner and has been one of the most consistent teams in this top-tier continental competition, reaching the semifinals or better in five of the last six seasons.

Wydad coach Walid Regraui says he is not worried by the controversy of CAF selecting their home ground as the venue for a one-off final: “We are ready to play anywhere. CAF decided to play the final in Morocco and we should respect their decision. It is not important for us where the final will take place. We are ready to play in Dakar, in Istanbul or in any other place. We earned four away wins in this edition and we are ready to grab a fifth.”

• Key players

Percy Tau – The South African forward had a hand in all six of Ahly’s goals in the semifinal against ES Setif and will be looking to wreak havoc amongst Wydad’s defence. If Tau can hit his straps, the Red Devils will be favourites for a third successive African crown.

Aymane Hassouni – The 27-year-old midfielder is the brains behind Wydad’s play, orchestrating their passing moves and providing the creative spark when something a little unorthodox is required to break down a defence.

• Head-to-head stats

In head-to-head stats, Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca have met in 10 matches dating back as far as 2016. The Red Devils have claimed four wins compared to two for the Red Castle, while four games have been drawn.

The teams last met in the semifinals of the 2019-20 CAFCL, with Ahly claiming a 5-1 aggregate victory. However, their previous meeting in a final of the continental competition was won 2-1 on aggregate by Wydad.

• Battles to watch

Pitso Mosimane v Walid Regraui – Mosimane has already made history by guiding Ahly to three successive finals (a feat Manuel Jose also achieved with the club in the mid-2000s) but he will need to be at his sharpest to get the batter of a canny and determined Regraui.

Mohamed Abdelmonen v Guy Mbenza – The Ahly centre-back has been one of African football’s emerging stars in 2022 and he will be tasked with keeping a lid on the explosive talent of Wydad’s Congolese striker Mbenza.

Hussein El Shahat v Yahya Jabrane – Two cultured and attack-minded midfielders, El Shahat and Jabrane will battle for control of possession in the ‘engine room’ and look to give their team an upper hand in what should be a very closely-contested final.

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CAF Champions League final broadcast details

• All times CAT

Monday 30 May

• 21:00: Al Ahly v Wydad Casablanca – LIVE on SuperSport PSL, SuperSport Maximo 1, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 2

The Ghana Premier League side will host the Moroccan club in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Speaking ahead of the game, the 2020 Presidential candidate for the Liberal Party of Ghana, Kofi Akpaloo, said he will reward each player with a GHc1,000 if they win, adding that coach Samuel Boadu will also receive GHc2,000 should they emerge victorious.

“I will give every Hearts player GH¢1,000 should they beat WAC on Sunday,” he told Kumasi-based OTEC FM.

“I will give every Hearts of Oak player GH¢1,000 and ¢2,000 to the coach should they beat WAC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

“So far as Hearts is a Ghanaian team, it’s my prayer they progress to the next stage of the competition. They should go all out with the Phobian spirit as they did to win the Ghana Premier League,” he said.

The Phobians qualified for the CAF Champions League after winning the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League.

The second leg will be played in a week’s time in Rabat, Morocco.