Horoya AC travel to Wydad Casablanca this Saturday with hopes of completing a remarkable turnaround in the second leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final. After a goalless draw in the first leg at the September 28 Stadium in Conakry, the Guinean side face a challenging task against the Moroccan giants, but determination and ambition are driving Didier Gomes Da Rosa’s squad ahead of the decisive encounter.
The first leg ended in a tight 0–0, marked by several refereeing controversies that added tension to the tie. Despite the stalemate, Horoya’s players are confident in their ability to compete and are approaching the return leg with a clear objective: leave the pitch knowing they gave everything possible. Coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa emphasized the team’s readiness and focus on his pre-match assessment.
“We know we have what it takes to qualify, without making too much of a comment,” Gomes Da Rosa told the club’s official media. “After the accumulation of high-level matches, I think the current Horoya AC team could advance. We know that HAC is at its peak; that’s the image they projected in the first leg against Wydad AC. So now is the right time to take this next step.”
The Guinean coach acknowledged that determination and discipline would be critical in Casablanca. “This match will be decided, in part, by determination. It’s an open game, given that we didn’t concede a goal in Conakry—a 50/50 match. Our requirement is to be solid defensively from the start, using our strengths on the pitch to win. It’s true we’ve kept two clean sheets, against Hafia FC and Wydad, but beyond that, we also need to attack aggressively,” he added.
For Horoya, the path to the semi-finals will require at least a scoring draw or a win to overturn the tie. Captain Ocansey Mandela echoed his coach’s confidence and emphasized the team’s ambition to make a mark in African football. “First of all, let me say that we are Horoya AC. We hope to one day be at the forefront of African football, and that starts with matches like this. We’re counting on ourselves. Whether they change the referee or not, we’ll play our game against Wydad AC, even though they’re preparing for a tough match,” Mandela said.
The Horoya captain also drew inspiration from the club’s recent continental campaigns. “Against TP Mazembe, we failed in the group stage. The following year we qualified for the quarter-finals, then were eliminated by Al Ahly. Based on this logic, we will have the ticket for the semi-finals,” Mandela added, highlighting the team’s resilience and belief in their ability to achieve historic results.
Saturday’s match promises to be intense and unpredictable, with both sides aware that the tie could be decided by a single goal or a moment of brilliance. While Wydad Casablanca enters the game with the advantage of home support, Horoya AC’s confidence, discipline, and hunger to upset the odds make them a formidable opponent. Fans across Africa can expect a high-stakes encounter filled with drama, tactical battles, and the kind of passion that defines the CAF Champions League.
The clash in Casablanca represents more than a quarter-final—it is an opportunity for Horoya to cement their place among Africa’s elite clubs and for Wydad to assert their dominance in front of a fervent home crowd.
