Following a 1-0 win over TP Mazembe in the CAF Super Cup, Wydad Athletic Club coach Faouzi Benzarti is adamant his side are capable of retaining the CAF Champions League.
Amin Tighazoui 83rd minute free kick decided the well-attended match at the Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca in a game the home side missed a penalty and had another overturned by VAR.
“Naturally, we have to improve what we have and I must say that I’m happy with the defensive level of the team against a team like TP Mazembe,” he told the post-match presser. “It is always not easy to win against a team of the calibre of Mazembe,” he added.
I have been in charge for a month, but I have received positive feedback from the players. Some key players have left and I will have to make do with the existing ones.
There is no reason why we can’t retain the CAF Champions League.
However, he admits that his side needs to strengthen to compete for the African title this year.
The team should have to be strengthened if we want to win climb up and retain the CAF Champions League. Each team has one big or two players, who can make a difference in a game. But if I don’t have such a player(s), I will make do with what I have and will try to improve on their abilities.
The Tunisian is now the second most successful coach in CAF competitions with five titles.
He won two with Esperance and two with another Tunisian club, Etoile Sahel, before being hired by Wydad this year after Hussein Amoutta was fired over poor domestic form.
