Chisom Chikatara claims CAF Super Cup with Wydad Casablanca
Former Abia Warriors striker Chisom Chikatara was on the winning side as Wydad Casablanca saw off Congo DR side TP Mazembe 1-0 to emerge Champions of the 2018 CAF Super Cup at the Complexe Mohamed V in Casablanca on Saturday.
The one-off match pitched Wydad, winner of the Total CAF Champions League 2017 against TP Mazembe, champions of the Total CAF Confederation Cup 2017.
The Nigeria international who was an unused sub when his side overcame South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in last year’s CAF Champions League final was given the nod by coach Benzarti in Wydad’s starting line-up.
The 24-year old who only returned to full training following a long spell injury bagged 63 minutes of action before making way for Argentine’s Gabriel Quintana.
Ten minutes into the second period, Wydad came to close to breaking the deadlock from the spot but were denied by TP Mazembe’s Gbohouo who did just enough to get a hand to El Karti’s poor kick, keeping the visitors in the game.
The Zambian referee initially awarded a second penalty within three minutes to Wydad only to change his mind after running to the sideline and watching replays of the incident. VAR was supposed to debut in Africa last month during the Nations Championship in Morocco, but trial runs were held instead.
While the huge Moroccan crowd in the 65,000-seat stadium were naturally with the decision, it did appear that a Wydad player fell theatrically to the ground inside the box.
Seven minutes from time, Thigazaoui curled home a stunner off a free kick to put the Champions League holders in front for his third goal in 18 matches.
The home team dominated the annual one-off match throughout only to be defied by Gbohouo until 28-year-old winger Tighazoui struck.
Thigazaoui’s late strike proved just enough to hand Wydad the 2018 CAF Super Cup trophy at the expense of TP Mazembe.
Success for the Casablanca club continued a run of Moroccan football success that began last November when they defeated Al Ahly of Egypt to win the Champions League a second time.
