MC Alger won this competition way back in 1976 when it was known as African Cup of Champions. Forty-five years later, they are knocking on the semifinals door of this tournament for the first time in its present format.
Runners-up in their domestic league last season, Alger started this season’s Champions League campaign from the preliminary stage where they eliminated Benin Republic’s Buffles du Borgou 6-2 aggregate, and went on to beat CS Sfaxien of Tunisia 2-1 aggregate in the first round to reach the group phase.
There, Alger were thrown into Group D which another Tunisian side Espérance headed. Two wins and three draws in six matches ensured Alger reached the last eight as group runners-up to reach the Champions League knockout phase for the first time.
Their guests, Wydad can fall back on recent glory having played in the final of this tournament in 2019, losing to Espérance through a boardroom decision.
Wydad had forced 1-1 result in Rabat in the first leg but abandoned the reverse fixture a week later in Radès following protest over a 58th minute VAR decision.
Wydad were champions in 2017, adding to the African Cup of Champions trophy won in 1992.
This year, the Moroccan side arrived straight at the first round on account of their record in the continent. They were beaten 0-1 by Mali’s Stade Malien in the first leg but returned home to win 3-0. In Group C, where Wydad later featured, they won four matches and drew one in six games to top the section.
Both sides earlier met at the group stage in 2011. In the first leg, MC Alger won 3-1 while Wydad eventually went through through a 4-0 bashing in the second leg.
The aggregate winners will face either South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs or Simba of Tanzania in the semifinal.
Tomorrow’s fixtures…
CR Belouizdad (Algeria) v Espérance (Tunisia), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) v Simba (Tanzania) (both 5 pm); Al Ahly (Egypt) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) (8 pm)
