Wydad Casablanca put on a masterclass in front of a roaring home crowd, dismantling Nairobi United 3-0 in their CAF Confederation Cup opener and serving a harsh lesson in continental football at the Estadio Mohamed V.
The contest barely had time to breathe before Wydad stamped their authority. Ayoub Boucheta opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing a slick move created by the ever-dangerous Thembinkosi Lorch, whose marauding runs down the left flank unsettled Nairobi all evening.
From that moment, the Moroccan giants controlled the tempo, probing, pressing and forcing errors.
Wydad’s midfield metronome Aziz Ki threaded a dangerous diagonal in the ninth minute that had keeper Kevin Oduor scrambling, and Nordin Amrabat’s constant pressure left the visitors on edge.
Nairobi’s backline looked vulnerable; a shaky backpass in the 17th minute almost gifted Wydad a second as Oduor was hurried into a clearance under intense pressure.
Mohamed Bouchouari came close to doubling the lead in the 33rd minute, blazing wide from acres of space after a sweeping right‑side attack.
But the Moroccan forward made amends before half‑time, rifling home a superb strike in the 43rd minute to send Wydad into the break with a commanding 2-0 advantage.
The second half saw more of the same as Wydad continued to suffocate Nairobi United.
A frantic defensive block from Leslie Owino denied Hamza Hannouri in the 58th minute, while Nairobi’s best moment — a counter that saw Enock Machaka slot the ball home — was ruled out for offside, snuffing out a flicker of hope.
Manager Salim Ali tried to inject pace and width by bringing on Ovella Ochieng for Duncan Omala, but the substitution failed to shift the momentum.
Instead, it was Mohamed Rayhi who sealed the result, curling a cheeky left‑foot finish in the 86th minute to put the gloss on a deserved 3-0 victory for the hosts.
Wydad’s clinical display in Casablanca sent a clear message to the rest of the group stage: they are a force to be reckoned with.
Nairobi United, meanwhile, will head home to regroup and reflect on a humbling night under the Moroccan lights. Wydad now turn their attention to their next assignment against Maniema Union at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, carrying confidence and momentum into the next chapter of their Confederation Cup campaign.
