North African clubs kept their dominance over clubs in West Africa in the CAF Champions League last weekend.
Five football clubs from Nigeria, Niger and Togo were eliminated from the knockout phase of the 2022/23 CAF Champions League last Sunday at the hands of Morocco, Tunisia and Algerian clubs.
Rivers United, Plateau United of Nigeria, ASKO Kara of Togo, Djoliba Athletic Club of Mali and ASN Nigelec of Niger could not progress to the group stage of the competition due to the quality of the North African clubs.
Defending Champions Wydad Athletic Club defeated Nigeria Champions Rivers United by 6-0 at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca to qualify for the Group stages of the CAF Champions League for the 9th consecutive time.
Wydad suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of the Nigeria Champions Rivers United a week ago at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt and needed to overturn the deficit if they wanted to qualify.
The Red Castle qualifies for the group stages on a 7-2 aggregate, an improved performance of last season’s 6-2 aggregate over Accra Hearts of Oak of Ghana at the same level.
Since 2011, Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca has qualified for the group stages of the CAF Champions League, consecutively winning twice in the process (2017 and 2022).
Tunisia Champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis defeated Plateau United of Nigeria by 1-0 at Hammadi Agrebi Olympic Stadium in Radès from a controversial penalty awarded to them to qualify on away goal rule after a 1-2 loss in Jols.
In Algeria, JS Kabylie drew 1-1 with Togolese side ASKO Kara but secured qualification on a 3-2 aggregate over the West African Side.
However, Raja Casablanca won 3-0 aggregate over ASN Nigelec of Niger in the two-leg affairs, 0-2 in Niger and 1-0 at Mohammed V Complex in Morocco.
Djoliba Athletic Club of Mali could not hold on to their 2-1 first-leg result as they lost 2-0 to CR Belouizdad at the August 20 1955 Stadium in Algiers.
Horoya AC of Guinea is the sole representative of West Africa in the group stage of the 2022/23 Champions League.
