Morocco's Wydad Casablanca qualified for the CAF League final after beating hosts Esperance Tunis 5-4 on penalties despite losing 1-0 in the second leg of the semi-final in Rades on Wednesday.
Rodrigo Rodríguez scored the winning goal for Esperance with a wonderful header after a perfect cross from Oussama Bougherra in the 66th minute.
⚽️🔥 Brazilian Rodriguez opens the scoring for Esperance with a perfect header #CAF-Africa League | #الترجي_الوداد #AFL pic.twitter.com/RfrHpNDY17
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 1, 2023
Both teams resorted to penalties after each team won 1-0 at home, with the Wydad players scoring all five penalties successfully while Rodrygo missed his own.
Esperance substitute goalkeeper Amanullah Mamish did not save any kick after coming on near the end in place of the starting goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia.
🚨 Morocco's Wydad Casablanca reach the CAF League final
by beating hosts Esperance Tunis on penalties.#الدوري_الإفريقي | #الترجي_الوداد #AFL pic.twitter.com/yjNn6WRCRQ
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 1, 2023
Brazilian Rodrygo scored a goal near the end from a solitary position that would have sealed the victory without resorting to penalties, but the referee ruled it out for offside.
Wydad will meet in the final with the winner of the match against Al-Ahly of Egypt and Mamelodi Sundowns in the second confrontation of the semi-finals.
Al Ahly host South African rivals in Cairo later in the day after Sundowns triumphed 1-0 in the first leg on Sunday.