Rabat – Olympique Safi secured a historic place in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals after a 2-2 draw away to Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.
The first leg had ended 1-1, leaving everything open ahead of the return match. But Safi managed the occasion well and took advantage of key moments to seal qualification on aggregate.
Red Card Changes the Game Early
The game did not start easily for Wydad.
In the 27th minute, goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid was sent off, forcing the home side to continue with ten men for the rest of the match. That moment shifted the balance and gave Safi more space to play.
Safi opened the scoring late in the first half. In the 40th minute, Soufiane El Mouden converted a penalty to give the visitors the lead. Wydad responded just before the break, with Mohamed Mofid equalizing in stoppage time to keep the tie alive.
The second half remained tense, with both sides pushing forward despite the numerical disadvantage for Wydad.
As the game moved into its final moments, Safi found what looked like the decisive goal. Moussa Kone scored late to restore their advantage and put them in a strong position on aggregate.
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Wydad refused to give up and managed to equalize again in stoppage time through Hakim Ziyech. But it was not enough.
The 2-2 draw was meanwhile enough for Olympique Safi to go through, thanks to the away goals and the 1-1 result from the first leg.
This marks the first time in the club’s history that Safi reached the semi-finals of a continental competition, a major step for a team that is playing its debut season in the CAF Confederation Cup.
This milestone comes despite their struggles in the domestic league, the club sits at the bottom of the Botola Pro standings.
Semi-final clash against USM Alger
Next, they will face Algeria’s USM Alger in the semi-finals. The first leg is scheduled for April 12 in Algeria, with the return leg set for April 19 in Morocco.
The two teams have already met earlier this season in the group stage, where they drew 0-0 in Algeria before USM Alger won 1-0 in Morocco.
Meanwhile, Wydad’s elimination has raised questions around the future of head coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem. After the match, he gave a crisp response when asked about his position.
“There will be a meeting,” he said.
For Safi, however, the focus is now on continuing their run. After a composed performance under pressure, they move one step closer to a first continental final.
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