CAF Confederation Cup: All square after 1st leg between Wydad and OC Safi

CAF Confederation Cup favorites Wydad AC are in a strong position to reach the semifinals after playing to a 1-1 draw in their quarterfinal, first leg clash at fellow Moroccan club Olympique Club Safi.

Bolivia national team playmaker Ramiro Vaca provided the opening goal of the match in the 67th minute after finishing from Walid Nassi’s cross. An own goal from Wydad goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid leveled the match after a shot from Salaheddine Errahouli went off the post and back into the goal off the diving goalkeeper’s head.

Despite occupying last place in Morocco’s top flight Botola, OC Safi were confident after a strong group stage in their continental adventure. The Sharks largely held their own against the giants from Casablanca, whose best first half opportunity came in the 20th minute when Amine Aboulfath’s header was well saved by OCS goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani.

Both teams created danger after halftime with end-to-end action. Nassi’s cross failed to find Vaca or Wissam Ben Yedder with the OCS defense outnumbered before Wydad keeper Mehdi Benabid watched a shot attempt go just wide on the other end.

But Nassi got his final ball right in the 67th minute. After a dribble run down the right wing, the halftime substitute got to the end line before crossing low to find Vaca for the finish. The Bolivian now has 3 goals and 2 assists in 7 matches since arriving at the beginning of February.

OC Safi fight back in intense CAF Confederation Cup duel

However, the fierce home support inspired OC Safi to make a late charge and a stroke of good fortune was the reward in the 86th minute. The visitors failed to clear a cross into the penalty area and Errahouli reacted quickly to fire a low shot that went off the post but rebounded back into the goal off Benabid’s head to send the supporters into ecstasy.

Hamiani kept the score level in stoppage time with an excellent diving save from Hamza Hannouri’s header following a corner kick before a dramatic conclusion. Nassi appeared to fire in the winning goal in the final seconds but after jubilant celebrations with the traveling support, VAR intervened to rule out the goal due to a foul in the buildup.

All-square in the All-Moroccan #TotalEnergiesCAFCC quarterfinals’ first-leg! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/RBYiBc7h74

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) March 15, 2026

The two teams will meet again in Casablanca next Sunday, where Wydad and their high-priced squad will be heavy favorites to secure a semifinal berth.