Staff Reporter.
Wydad Casablanca will host Kaizer Chiefs in a Group C 2020-21 Caf Champions League match at Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 6pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
The match was originally set to take place in Morocco earlier this month, but was postponed after the Soweto giants were denied entry visas into the North Africa country due to health and safety related to the recent developments of Covid-19. As a result, the match was shifted to a neutral venue with Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou to host the two teams this weekend.
Wydad kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Petro Atletico at the Estadio 11 de Novembro. Ayoub El Kaabi scored the only goal for the visiting Moroccans in Luanda.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 0-0 draw by Horoya AC at FNB Stadium in Soweto in what was their maiden group stage match in Africa’s premier club competition.
“We knew this game was going to take place either way, it was just a matter of where,” coach Gavin Hunt said this week.
“The one country I have never been to is Burkina Faso. I’ve been to Morocco, Tunisia, I’ve played everywhere. This is going to be new for me. I have to look at the pitch, see the size and where it is. But it also puts them on the back foot as well.
“They are the strongest side in the group with all their experience. Hopefully, we can get a positive result there.”
In stark contrast, Wydad head to Burkina Faso on a six-game winning run across all competitions and currently occupy top spot on the Botola Pro standings.
Chiefs’ veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune‚ who has knowledge of the neutral venue having played there in Bafana Bafana’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in October 2016‚ said Amakhosi need to play for a win.
“It’s a very tough match for us and we’re looking forward to bringing three points back home‚” he said.
“It’s going to be a difficult match as it’s not our home game. We will have to fight hard for the three points.
In head-to-head terms, this will be the first meeting between the two clubs. Tunisian referee Sadok Selmi will take charge of the match in Ouagadougou.
Horoya lead Group C with four points from two games‚ Wydad have three points from one match‚ Chiefs have a point‚ and Petro de Luanda of Angola have zero.
Meanwhile Mamelodi Sundowns will chase a second successive win in Group B of the CAF Champions League when they face hosts CR Belouizdad in neutral Tanzania on Sunday afternoon.
Kick-off at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam is set for 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
This match was originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 23 February in Algeria, but travel difficulties relating to the strain of Covid-19 prevalent in South Africa prevented Sundowns from travelling.
In head-to-head terms, this will be the first meeting of Belouizdad and Sundowns. Malian referee Boubou Traore will take charge of the match in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.