Football: Abandoned final a hefty blow to African football

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - African Champions League - Esperance Sportive v Wydad Casablanca, Olympique de Rades Stadium, Rades, Tunisia - June 1, 2019 Esperance's Moez ben Cherifia celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - African football’s image took another hefty blow on Friday when the final of the continent’s top club competition was abandoned after Wydad Casablanca of Morocco walked off to protest a refereeing decision.

Amid embarrassing scenes in Tunis, home side Esperance were declared winners of the African Champions League but it took a stoppage of an hour and 25 minutes before the match was abandoned and they could claim the trophy.