As Kaizer Chiefs leaves for Morocco on Wednesday to face Wydad Athletic Club in the CAF Champions League semi-finals, Stuart Baxter admits his team will need to up their game.
According to South African, Baxter admitted that Wydad will be tough opponents as Kaizer Chiefs looked to secure their place in this season’s final.
Baxter was speaking ahead of the first semi-finals at the Stade Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday, June 19, the report said.
The returning Kaizer Chiefs coach will, however, not be on the bench when Amakhosi play the first leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal match .
Briton Baxter‚ who returned last week for a second stint to replace fired Gavin Hunt‚ is yet to be issued with a work permit, and will, therefore, not be allowed to sit in the technical area this weekend, Times Live reported.
New Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach, Stuart Baxter
Contract details: https://t.co/zNhcUJJoYx#Amakhosi4Life #WelcomeBackBaxter pic.twitter.com/BTIutA2QFJ
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 9, 2021
Kaizer Chiefs defeated Simba SC of Tanzania 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, having won the first leg at home 4-0.
Meanwhile, Wydad sunk Difaa El Jadidi 4-2 to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games.
‘It is a strong opponent’
A KickOff report said on Tuesday that the man that Amakhosi will have to make sure is given special attention is Ayoub El Kaabi, who struck a hat-trick on Wednesday evening after Tanzanian forward Simon Msuva had opened the scoring earlier on.
El Kaabi has now scored 18 goals in all competitions this season, while that result saw Wydad climb above Raja Casablanca on to 44 points – two above their rivals with two-thirds of the league campaign played.
Chiefs have already played Wydad twice in the group stage this season, losing 4-0 away in Ougadougou before winning 1-0 at home in a game in which the Moroccans sent a weakened team after already qualifying as group winners.
Baxter said according to Kickoff: “It is a strong opponent, but we have shown in the home game that we can match them.
“We have to improve on our first leg and maybe tactically and mentally try and be able to grind a result there that allows to bring them back here and have a go at them.
“It is going to be a challenge, but I am hoping that if we do it properly these two games and hopefully the final will serve as good preparations and a springboard moving into the new season.”
