Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs are on course to rewrite their history after edging north African giant Wydad Athletic Club 1-0 on aggregate, placing them in the running to win the coveted CAF Champions League.
From the Cape in the south to Musina in the north, most of the country is celebrating Amakhosi’s sensational achievement.
Chief’s Champions League heroics started in Casablanca and ended with the home side celebrating reaching the milestone of being finalists at their home base, Soccer City.
Ironically, the final will be held on Wydad’s home ground in Casablanca on 17 July. In his starting XI, Chiefs assistant coach Arthur Zwane gave second-choice keeper Daniel Akpeyi a start and the goalie repaid his manager with a sterling performance between the sticks.
Zwane rested first leg hero, Bruce Bvuma, whose splendid showing in Casablanca saved the day. Also missing from the starting team sheet was forward Leonardo Castro.
On the other hand, the Moroccans ensured they were in top shape for the match, resting as many as 10 players for their league clash back home midweek.
The African inter-club competition clash was characterised by the batt le between goal poacher and goalkeeper, with Wydad striker Aymane El Hassouni bombarding Chiefs goalminder Akpeyi. However, the Nigerian keeper was unshaken, standing his ground.
Following a tumultuous season that saw the Glamour Boys fire their coach Gavin Hunt and struggle to make the cut for the Top Eight until the last match of the recently ended season, Amakhosi are now in their maiden final of Africa’s elite club competition.
This is arguably the most important undertaking in the illustrious 50-year-old history of the club, which is known for having won every competition on offer in local football.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World
