TACTICAL ANALYSIS: How brave Azam FC fell short to Wydad in the CAF Confederation Cup

Group B of the CAF Confederation Cup, where Kenyan representatives Nairobi United are slotted, served up a sumptuous fixture as Tanzanian giants Azam FC faced off against Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.

With Azam coming off a 2-0 loss to Congolese side AS Maniema, they looked to right the wrongs of the opening day defeat, while Wydad looked to build on an emphatic 3-0 win over the Nicholas Muyoti-led Nairobi United.

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In this tactical analysis piece, we set out to understand how Wydad emerged as winners in Tanzania, with a display built on tactical efficiency, player quality and a resolute out-of-possession structure. The latter saw Wydad keep their second successive clean sheet.

Azam, now under the tutelage of highly regarded tactician Florent Ibenge, set up in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation.

Zuberi Foba was in goal, with a backline of Lusajo Mwaikenda and Pascal Msindondo as the fullbacks.

Colombian Fuentes Mendoza was partnered with Malian Yoro Diaby in central defense. Mao Mkami partnered with former Simba and JS Kabylie midfield lynchpin Sadio Kanoute to form the double pivot.

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Feisal Salum operated as the link between midfield and attack, flanked by livewire Iddi Nado and Abdul Sopu.

CHAN stalwart Japhta Kitambala led the line, looking to open his account with his new employers in this competition.

Wydad set up in a 1-4-4-1-1 nominal formation. Under coach Mohamed Benhachem, the Moroccan outfit has been lauded for their fluidity in attack and resoluteness in defense.

El Mehdi Benabid was between the sticks. Brazilian Guilherme Ferreira partnered with Amine Abdoulfath at centre-back. Mohamed Bouachari at right back and Ayoub Boucheta at left back.

Walid Sabbar and Joseph Bakasu were the central midfielders, with Noordin Amrabat and Thembikosi Lorch as the wide men.

Former Tanzanian Premier League Player of the Season, Aziz Ki, played off-centre forward Hamza Hannouri.

Team line ups and formations

Being at home and coming off a loss. The onus was on Azam to control the game, look to carve out opportunities and neutralise Wydad's threat.

Coach Ibenge did exactly this and saw his side give a good account of themselves despite the result.

Azam looked to build with low output, always looking to have an extra player in the first phase, be it the goalkeeper or Mkami moving between the centre backs who split to the edge of the 18-yard area.

This would then see Konate and an inverted winger or fullback, especially Msindo invert, forming a double pivot.

Wydad sat off in a 4-4-2 midblock, looking to deny any central progression from Azam and locking out passing lanes into the influential Feisal Salum between the lines.

Wydad's out-of-possession plan worked well, forcing Azam to play long into Kitambala, who was under tight marking but managed to win some duels off the Wydad centrebacks.

An area of joy Azam found was the long balls into Kitambala. On winning a duel, they would now look to build off second balls.

Azam's technical rotations allowed them to cause Wydad problems in the progression and creation zones.

Feisal, starved off service, drifted wide on the right-hand side, allowing Iddi Nado to drift inside. Rotating with fullback Mwaikenda.

A common pattern of rotation saw Kitambala now drift to pin Ferreira. This would set the team in an advanced 3-4-3 structure.

The back three was formed by Fuentes, Mkami and Diaby.

Msindo provided depth and width on the left, looking to draw out the Wydad fullback and leave Kitambala 1v1 vs Ferreire. Feisal did the same on the right, avoiding the congested and aggressive central areas.

Iddi Nado and Kanoute formed the double pivot while Mwaikenda operated in the right advanced halfspace, just off Sopu, who was now the nine.

These Azam rotations were a joy to watch as the fullback was now the attacking midfielder. The right winger a central midfielder, and the left winger a striker.

Azam FC wide rotations

Wydad, however, had a lot of joy in the wide areas, showing deadly wide combinations that saw them wallop Nairobi United.

On the left, Aziz Ki, Lorch and Boucheta combined well. Wydad also looked to consistently find Aziz Ki between the lines.

For Wydad, the fullbacks looked to push up and provide width while Amrabat and Lorch came inside, giving Wydad numerical superiority in the centre of the pitch.

Aziz Ki and Bakasu operated in the halfspaces as Sabbat acted as the deep-lying playmaker in their 2-1-4-3 formation.

In the second half, Wydad made a quick change, one that would change the tide of the game.

On a yellow, Bouchari was taken off for Mohamed Moufid. The fresh right-back already showed his attacking intent, pushing forward at every invitation.

Wydad now looked to control the game more, their composure on the ball now showing. The goal was a blueprint of what they had wanted to do.

Moufid came inside, opening up the angle for Amrabat to receive wide.

Move to Wydad's goal with Moufid wide and Wydad 2v1

The right back then ran wide, creating a passing angle for Amrabat to play with Aziz Ki, Lorch and Hannouri attacking the box. Lorch, the far winger, went to the near post as Amrabat also arrived on the edge of the box.

Moufid cut the ball back to Lorch, whose backheel found Amrabat, the Moroccan slotted home, giving Wyday the lead.

The goal did not faze Azam, who still kept with their approach. Zayd Yahya came on for the injured Mkami. Wydad also rang the changes with Lorch coming off for Hamza Elowasti.

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A worrying sight for Benhachem was when Aziz Ki had to be stretchered off; he was replaced by Mohamed Rayhi, who already has a goal in this competition. Benhachem will need Aziz Ki back fit as he is integral to his structure.

In the dying minutes, Azam threw the kitchen sink at it, looking to find Kitambala. Wydad somehow survived.

Azam will pick positives from the match, but will know the importance of having points on the board if they are to progress to the next round. A win in Nairobi against Nairobi United in 2026 will be key.

Wydad, now among the favourites to win the competition, will look to build momentum and be ready, with Aziz Ki, Lorch and the yet to be registered Hakim Ziyech their potent threats.