Wydad Casablanca are take on South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the African Football League final at the Mohamed V Stadium on Sunday. The ‘Brazilians’ have not conceded a single goal in this campaign and they will be aiming to keep another clean sheet in the first leg in Morocco as they hope to lift the title before their home crowd in South Africa where they will play the return leg fixture on November 12. Wydad AC advanced to the final after ousting Esperance on penalties following the pair’s 1-1 aggregate draw while Sundowns saw off pre-tournament favourites Al Ahly with a 1-0 win on aggregate. ALSO READ: AFL: Koller insists Al Ahly were unlucky against Sundowns This is going to be the 13th meeting between the two African heavyweights where Wydad AC won four times against Sundowns three while they drew level five times. Their last meeting was in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League when it ended 2-2 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on May 20, 2023. Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena is likely to go with skipper Themba Zwane, Marcelo Allende and Aubrey Modiba in attack as he hopes to get at least some vital away goals in the encounter. Wydad AC, on the other hand, is an all-round team which has been formidable in every department. However, their main strong hold lies in midfield where they rely on the services of their midfield maestro Hicham Boussefiane who dictates the pace of the game. In all the first leg of the final will be keenly contested with quality football being displayed. The team which takes its chances and remains solid at the back will win the day.
