Moroccan Champions Wydad Casablanca prepare to face Egyptian legends Al Ahly SC, as the first leg of the CAF Champions League final kicks off on Saturday night at Borg El Arab stadium, Alexandria, Egypt.
The winner of the final will secure a coveted spot at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017, where they’ll face CONCACAF champions, C.F. Pachuca, in the quarter-final round of the tournament.
The 14th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will be held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from December 6 — 16. A total of eight matches will be contested, between seven regional champions for the ultimate club accolade.
Having previously competed in the tournament five times in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2013, Al Ahly are no strangers to the FIFA Club World Cup. They finished in third place in 2006, defeating CONCACAF champions Club America 2-1 in the third-place play-off.
Wydad Casablanca arrive at the CAF Champions League final with the hopes of qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in their history. Their city rivals, Raja Casablanca, became the first Moroccan and Arab team to reach a FIFA Club World Cup final in 2013.
Wydad Casablanca’s incredible run to the CAF Champions League final saw them defeat CAF Champions League 2016 Champions, Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-final and 2016 Algerian League Champions, USM Alger in the semi-final. Al Ahly will head into the final in high hopes, following a sensational semi-final win against Etoile du Sahel with an aggregate score of 7-4.
Their second-leg 6-2 home win against the Tunisian side was the highest score recorded in a CAF Champions League semi-final. If victorious in tonight’s game, Al Ahly will become the most decorated CAF Champions League side in history, with nine titles to their name.
Elsewhere, the AFC Champions League finalists Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal FC will take on Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the first leg of the final on November 18 in Riyadh.
Four teams have qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 to date: Spain’s Real Madrid C.F., New Zealand’s Auckland City FC, Mexico’s C.F. Pachuca and UAE’s Al Jazira. The winner of the CAF Champions League final will be the fifth qualifier for the tournament, with the remaining two teams – the AFC Champions League winner and the Copa Libertadores winner – set to be determined between November 25 and 29.
Fans can take advantage of the tournament’s travel packages via www.fifa.com/uae2017.
