Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane has questioned the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award Morocco the CAF Champions League final again.
The Red Devils are firmly on course for a third successive final after beating ES Setif 4-0 in the 1st leg semi-final, while Wydad are favourites to meet them in the final, having beat Petro Atletico 3-1 in Luanda.
Ahly won their record tenth title in Casablanca last season in a 3-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs and the decision from CAF to allow the same country the event for a second consecutive season has sparked widespread criticism.
South Africa, Senegal and Morocco were said to be the three nations who made official bids for the final to CAF, SAFA later withdrew their bid after not receiving assurances from the government over 100% capacity amid the Covid-19 restrictions.
iDiski Times was informed at the time that Senegal’s new Dakar Arena were then pitted as favourites as a neutral venue with Wydad and Raja both still in the quarter-finals at the time. However, CAF announced that Senegal also withdrew, leaving Morocco as the only bidder.
Mosimane has since questioned the decision on social media. “When the Caf Champions League group stages games were finished, rumours were saying SA is hosting,” he stated.
“After semi-finals game were decided, there was a loud silence on the country to host the final.Then after the first leg of the semi finals, suddenly Morocco is hosting.”
He was also recently asked about CAF looking to change the final from a once-off game to a two-legged home and away fixture again in his recent press conference.
“I don’t make the rules, I follow what I’m told, I can’t do nothing [with my opionion] it’s not for me to change the rules. Even if I say I want this and it comes the other way, do you think my talk will influence the decision,” he told Egyptian media on Saturday when asked about the two-legged final approach potentially returning.
“My only thing is, of course, a neutral venue, I think it’s only fair, that’s my only decision – whether it’s home twice, home, away whatever – I think there are rules with CAF and I think they will follow the rules.”
The Champions League final is set to take place on Monday, 30 May – with the two finalists to be confirmed this coming Saturday when the second leg fixtures are played out.
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