Wydad Casablanca Aims to Catch Up with Olympique Safi in CAF Cup Quarterfinals
The Wydad Casablanca is gearing up for the fifth matchday of the African Confederation Cup group stage, determined to bounce back from their recent loss in Lubumbashi and catch up with Olympique Safi, who has already secured their qualification for the quarterfinals. The team, known as “the Red Fortress,” will travel to Kenya to face Nairobi United next Sunday, in a match where victory is crucial to avoid complicated calculations and stay in the running.
Technical and Mental Challenges
Although the matchup against the group’s bottom team, which has no points so far, seems straightforward on paper, the real test for Wydad’s players lies in the mental aspect and managing the aftermath of their previous defeat to Maniema Union (1-2). The team had started the competition with a strong momentum, securing three consecutive victories: two at home against Nairobi United (3-0) and Maniema Union (1-0), along with an away win against Azam FC (1-0).
Group Standings and Qualification Stakes
Wydad is currently tied with the Congolese team at the top of the group, while Azam is trailing by three points. With Wydad’s position secured due to goal difference, the margin for error is minimal, necessitating lessons learned from the setback in Lubumbashi to regain balance ahead of upcoming matches.
Olympique Safi Qualified and Focused on Domestic League
Meanwhile, Olympique Safi has secured its place in the quarterfinals before facing Djoliba next Sunday, having overcome a challenging period in the competition. After a rocky start, with an away win against Djoliba (1-0) and a home loss to USM Alger (0-1), the Safi club triumphed in both encounters against San Pedro (2-1 on aggregate), accumulating a total of 9 points and confirming their qualification through direct confrontations. Olympique Safi can now turn its efforts toward the national championship, where they currently sit at the bottom of the table with five points from eight matches, hoping to harness the momentum gained in the African Cup to boost their domestic performances.
