Egyptian champions Al Ahly will face off with Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in a CAF Champions League first leg match on Sunday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.This is a repeat of last season’s final, which was a one-off clash; the final has since reverted to a two-legged affair.Last year, Wydad downed Al Ahly to clinch the continental title, and this could be a chance for Al Ahly to get revenge or for The Red Castle to retain the title.##NAJAVA_MECA_7299437##The two teams have met twice in the final, with Wydad coming out on top on both occasions. Apart from last year’s win, the Moroccan giants also beat the Red Devils in the 2007 final.Al Ahly downed ES Tunis in the semis to secure passage to the final. They won 3-0 in Tunis before winning by a solitary goal in Caro. Wydad managed to send Mamelodi Sundown’s packing on goal difference.The first leg in Casablanca ended in a barren draw, while the return leg staged in South Africa ended in a 2-2 draw.The two teams have 13 CAF Champions League titles between them. Al Ahly, the record champions, have 10 titles, while Wydad have three titles to their name.Ahead of the game, Al Ahaly coach Marcel Martin Koller understands that his team faces a solid side. He described Wyad as one of the best teams on the continent.”I have watched many of their matches to study them, and I know they are one of the strongest teams on the continent. It will be a difficult match, but we will strive with all our might to achieve victory in the first leg,” he told CAF Media.🇪🇬 Al Ahly forward 🇿🇦 Percy Tau is fit and ready for the first leg CAF Champions League final.They face champions 🇲🇦 Wydad on Sunday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.🌍 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/B7P0IHeFVp— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) June 3, 2023 Al Ahly count themselves lucky to have progressed from the group stage, as they had to wait until the final game to secure passage, and he hopes his team can ride on a bit of luck in the final.”Many people doubted our ability during the group stages, but we were able to march on and work hard to be where we are today. We want to continue in this same form for the next two matches.”.Wydad coach Sven Vandenbroeck does not believe that his side are favourites heading into the game, despite having a better head-to-head statistic.”I understand that (losing two finals) can hurt. History will play a small role, but it will not change much. A final is always special. For us, winning and retaining the trophy is what is motivating,” the former Simba SC coach told CAF Media.He will be without inspirational midfielder Abdullah Hamoud, who recently underwent surgery, but the tactician is not worried as he says he has enough cover in his unit.”All players who play for Wydad have good quality, and anyone can be in the starting 11. Hamoud’s is a loss for us because he gives us good balance both offensively and defensively. But his health is more important. We have a rich team, and there will be someone to replace him,” the tactician added.The match starts at 9 p.m. EAT.Nzoia Sugar braced up for potential mass walkout in off season transfer window
