Mohamed Amin Benhachem, the head coach of Wydad Athletic Club, confirmed that the match between his team and Maniema from Congo, in the third round of the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, was difficult and complex due to the strength and ranking of the opponent, as well as the physical and technical conditions the team has experienced recently.

Benhachem explained in the press conference following the match that the lack of competitive rhythm affected Wydad's performance due to the nearly two-month break in matches. This was clearly reflected in the first half, which saw a slow pace of play and difficulty in building attacks.

The Wydad coach pointed out issues in the midfield, where some players were forced to frequently retreat, which led to isolating the forwards and reducing offensive effectiveness. He noted that the pressure exerted by the Congolese team in the midfield disrupted the process of moving the ball forward.

Benhachem added that the technical staff intervened during halftime to correct the situation by repositioning some players and granting more freedom for offensive roles. This helped create more opportunities and a better attacking depth, despite the lack of effectiveness in front of the goal.

He affirmed that the changes he made gave the team additional energy, especially on the offensive level, as they contributed to increasing speed and raising the tempo during the final minutes, and Wydad was close to scoring more goals.

Benhachem emphasized that the Maniema team did not pose a real threat to Wydad's goal, except for a few limited counterattacks. He considered his team to be the better side in terms of control and creating opportunities, but they squandered many easy chances.

Regarding the tactical choices, the Wydad coach explained that some players have not yet reached full physical readiness due to their gradual return from injury. This has compelled him to distribute playing minutes cautiously to ensure their safety.

Benhachem concluded his statements by emphasizing that this victory gives the team an important morale boost ahead of the upcoming matches, noting that the main goal is to secure qualification as soon as possible while continuing to work on improving performance and maintaining the lead in the group to avoid tough encounters in the knockout stages.