Olympic Club Safi secured a dramatic passage into the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup after edging past Wydad AC on the away goals rule following a pulsating 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Having played out a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg, Safi held their nerve in a chaotic return leg away from home, progressing with a 3-3 aggregate score thanks to their superior away goals tally.
The contest burst into life early on and took a decisive turn in the 24th minute when Wydad were reduced to 10 men. Goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid was shown a red card, leaving the hosts with an uphill task for the remainder of the match.
Safi capitalised on their numerical advantage and broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval. Sofiane El Moudane calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 40th minute to hand the visitors a crucial lead.
Despite being a man down, Wydad responded with determination after the break. Their resilience paid off when Mohamed Moufid restored parity, reigniting hopes among the home supporters.
The game continued to swing dramatically in the closing stages. Moussa Kone appeared to have sealed the tie for Safi when he struck in the 90th minute, putting the visitors ahead once again and seemingly out of reach.
However, there was still time for one final twist. Deep into stoppage time, Hakim Ziyech produced a late equaliser for Wydad, sending the crowd into a frenzy and setting up a tense finish.
Despite the late drama, the goal was not enough to overturn the aggregate balance. With the score tied at 3-3 across both legs, Safi advanced on the away goals rule, bringing an end to Wydad’s campaign in heartbreaking fashion.
Olympic Club Safi will now look ahead to the semi-finals, buoyed by their resilience and ability to deliver in high-pressure moments, while Wydad are left to reflect on what might have been after a spirited fight with ten men.
