Wydad’s hectic schedule gives Chiefs the edge

Kaizer Chiefs will hope their relative freshness will get them over the line when they host Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal on Saturday.

Chiefs were able to jet straight back to South Africa after their heroic 1-0 first leg win in Casablanca on Saturday, giving them plenty more time on the training field with coach Stuart Baxter.

But Wydad had to honour a Moroccan league fixture on Tuesday night, which they won 2-0 at RSB Berkane to extend their lead at the top of the domestic championship to sixth place, though they have played a game more than second-placed Raja Casablanca.

It was a ninth match in a month for the side, a punishing run of games that coach Faouzi Benzarti has warned will take its toll on his side.

Wydad do not have a good record in South Africa in their six visits since the first against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2017. They have not managed a win, scored only two goals and were beaten 1-0 by Chiefs in the group stages of the Champions League earlier this campaign.