Esperance Declared African Champions League Winners

Tunisia’s Esperance have been confirmed the winners of the African Champions League.

 The declaration supersedes an earlier decision in June made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that the final between Esperance and Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca would be replayed. According to CAF the decision was made because the “condition of game and safety were not met.”

Wydad contested the second leg of the tournament final, having left the pitch after their goal was disallowed by the VAR. Esperance were then ordered to return the trophy and medals and replay the second leg of the final. The first leg, which was uncontested, resulted in a 1-1 draw between the two sides.

The decision to reinstated Esperance as the tournament victors without a replay was taken this week following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that the CAF’s earlier ruling was wrong. CAS ordered CAF’s disciplinary committee to review the ruling. The committee has since found Wydad guilty of abandoning the second leg of the final.