Jabrane penalty gives African champions Wydad vital win

A penalty converted by Morocco international Yahya Jabrane gave CAF Champions League title-holders Wydad Casablanca a crucial 1-0 win over Angolan visitors Petro Luanda on Friday.

Having lost away to JS Kabylie of Algeria in their first Group A match last weekend, three-time African champions Wydad could ill afford another defeat.

A cagey clash in which Wydad had only two goal attempts on target and Petro none was settled after 34 minutes in the Moroccan commercial capital.

Petro full-back Pedro Francisco fouled Mohamed Ounajem and Jabrane sent Hugo Marques the wrong way from the spot kick.

Petro, beaten by Wydad in the semifinals last season, had more possession than the home side, but a lack of penalty-area sharpness proved costly.

AAAALLEZ WYDAD ! ??#DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/NA7ouCj99a

— Wydad Athletic Club (@WACofficiel) February 24, 2023

Tiago Azulao, the 2022 Champions League Golden Boot winner and scorer of five goals in the premier African club competition this season, wasted a glorious chance to level late on.

A low cross found the Brazilian unmarked close to the six-yard box and in front of goal, but his rushed shot flew over

Wydad and Petro meet again on 7 March in Luanda, and improved passing and more clinical finishing from the Angolan outfit could see them reverse the Casablanca result.

Two-time African champions Kabylie are away on Saturday to V Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who play in neighbouring Congo because their ground is not up to international standards.

Kabylie and Petro have four points each, Wydad three and V Club, the 1973 African champions, are pointless.

Elsewhere, a 2-1 win for Al Hilal of Sudan over hosts Coton Sport of Cameroon in Garoua created the possibility that Group B may be more closely contested than originally expected.

Pre-matchday 1 assumptions were that record 10-time Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt and 2016 title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa would dominate the section.

But if Hilal, whose 36 qualifications for the competition is a record, can beat Coton again next month they will become serious contenders for a top-two finish and a quarterfinals place.

Patient Wassou gave Coton a halftime lead before DR Congo-born Makabi Lilepo scored twice in five minutes, the first direct from an angled free-kick, to earn Hilal maximum points.

A successful day for Sudan was completed when Al Merrikh shaded Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria 1-0 in Group D courtesy of a penalty from Brazilian Paulo Sergio on 32 minutes.