Wydad Casablanca coach Faouzi Benzarti has warned his players of Kaizer Chiefs, saying Saturday’s CAF Champions League semi-final will be a lot different from their 4-0 group stage win.
The 71-year-old, who won the competition with Esperance in 1994, is one of the most experienced coaches on the African continent.
Wydad Casablanca are his 37th coaching position since his first role in 1977 and he could lead the Moroccan giants into their third final over the last five years.
However, Benzarti has insisted that their 4-0 group stage win over Amakhosi cannot be seen as a benchmark for Saturday’s semi-final first leg in Casablanca.
“This match will be quite different from the group stage match,” he explained on Friday.
“Every team that reaches the last four of the Champions League is a good team.
“We need to be at our best tomorrow. We need to score and to avoid conceding a goal.
“A lot of changes happened to Kaizer Chiefs (since the group stage), so we need to be at our best.”
Wydad are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions and have lost just one of their 13 knockout matches at home in the CAF Champions League (nine wins, 3 draws) – a 2-0 defeat against Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly in last season’s semi-final.
Saturday’s first leg against Chiefs will kick off at 21:00, SA time.
