{"id":114791,"date":"2023-10-30T14:03:19","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T14:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/10\/30\/bousfiane-strike-gives-wydad-slender-afl-semi-advantage-over-esperance\/"},"modified":"2023-10-30T14:03:19","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T14:03:19","slug":"bousfiane-strike-gives-wydad-slender-afl-semi-advantage-over-esperance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/10\/30\/bousfiane-strike-gives-wydad-slender-afl-semi-advantage-over-esperance\/","title":{"rendered":"Bousfiane strike gives Wydad slender AFL semi advantage over Esperance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A second-half goal from Hicham Bousfiane earned Morocco\u2019s Wydad Casablanca a 1-0 home victory over Tunisian side Esperance in the first leg of their crunch African Football League semi-final.<\/p>\n

Bousfiane found the breakthrough just before the hour mark at Stade Mohamed V as Wydad claimed a slender advantage to take into Wednesday\u2019s return fixture in Tunis.<\/p>\n

In front of a raucous sell-out crowd, Wydad started brightly but were unable to capitalise on heavy early pressure.<\/p>\n

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Esperance goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia made some important interventions, before Bousfiane pounced to put the hosts ahead.<\/p>\n

His deceptive near post finish gave Ben Cherifia no chance as Wydad\u2019s probing was finally rewarded 11 minutes into the second period.<\/p>\n

Esperance almost levelled instantly as Anice Badri rattled the woodwork, underlining the tie\u2019s knife-edge nature.<\/p>\n

Wydad substitute Zouhair El Moutaraji then clipped the bar late on as both sides had chances to add to the scoring.<\/p>\n

But Bousfiane\u2019s solitary strike proved the difference as Wydad claimed a psychological boost, if not a definitive advantage.<\/p>\n

The 1-0 victory represents a small measure of revenge for Wydad after their 2018 TotalEnergies Champions League final loss to Esperance.<\/p>\n

But four-time African champions Esperance will still fancy their chances of overturning the deficit on home soil on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

With the tie delicately poised at half-time, the second leg in the cauldron of Stade Olympique de Rades promises further drama and tension.<\/p>\n

Yet Wydad know an away goal could prove decisive in settling this titanic semi-final battle.<\/p>\n

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