Wydad Athletic Club head coach Sven Vandenbroeck admits the home supporters played a role in allowing them to gain confidence again in their CAF Champions League win over Mamelodi Sundowns.
In a rollercoaster game at Loftus Versfeld, the crowd were stunned into silence when Wydad equalised on both occasions in the 2-2 draw as they advanced to the final of the competition on the away goal rule.
But he noted that the hostile atmosphere often created in North Africa during Champions League games wasn’t present in Tshwane, as he suggested the country isn’t completely a footballing nation with the culture of the Moroccan giants.
“Yes I think it’s culture, maybe because football in Nothern countries, it’s the number one sport. Here I think there are other sports that are a little bit bigger than football,” Vandenbroeck said in the post-match press conference.
“And then you see ‘ah we’re 1-0 up, we have what we want’, so [they] go quiet, I think it’s a massive difference [in fan bases].
“I think it’s culture maybe a little bit, but I can’t talk about it too much because our fans are great and they have to stay great.
“There will be 60,000 or 70,000 in Casablanca for the second leg in the final to support us.”
Wydad will face Al Ahly in the first leg final on 4 June at the Cairo International Stadium in their Egyptian capital.
Source Link Wydad Coach Admits Massive Role Of Sundowns Fans In CAFCL Exit
