CAFCL Wrap: Chiefs’s magical continental ride gets to final as Al Ahly seek to defend their title

From losing the title on the last day of the 2019/2020 season, to finishing as poorly as eighth in last season's league campaign, Kaizer Chiefs certainly redeemed themselves by sealing a place in the CAF Champions League final where they will face record champions Al Ahly in what will be the very first time in the club's history. Here is a wrap of how the action unfolded.

Kaizer Chiefs (1 – 0)* Wydad Casablanca

A 0-0 draw at home in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semifinal played at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg ensured Chiefs went through 1-0 on aggregate after their victory in Morocco last weekend.

In order to get to the finals, Chiefs went into the match only needing to avoid defeat for a chance to achieve the historic feat. Those plans were however hit with a double whammy even before the match kicked off as last week’s man of the match, goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, who had also helped the Amakhosi to earn six clean sheets in this season’s tournament, and striker Leonardo Castro were sidelined by injuries.

However despite the challenges and sustained pressure from Wydad, Chief’s stood firm in keeping out the 2017 Champions League winners to reach the finals becoming the third South African side to reach the prestigious final after Mamelodi Sundowns (2001 & 2016) and fierce rivals Orlando Pirates (1995 & 2013).

Al Ahly (4 – 0)* Esperance Tunis

Holders and record nine-time winners of the CAFCL, Al Ahly, will be out to get a tenth star and to defend their title after a comfortable 3-0 second leg win (4-0 in aggregate) over a ten-man Esperance from Tunisia.

Ali Maaloul opened the scoring for Al Ahly with a successful penalty conversion in the 38th minute after Esperance’s IIyes Chetti was sent off for an unsuccessful last-ditch tackle. Mohamed Sherif added a second before Hussein Al Shahat grabbed the game’s third to send head coach Pitso Mosimane into yet another cup final.

Kaizer Chiefs will now face Al Ahly on July 17th in a one-legged fixture set to be played at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.