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Sundowns duo in CAF Champions League team

Johannesburg - Captain Brahim Nekkach is among three stars from title-winners Wydad Casablanca of Morocco included in the 2017 CAF Champions League team of the competition.

The defensive midfielder was chosen along with team-mates Youssef Rabeh and Mohamed Ounajem in a side released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Rabeh was part of a defence that conceded only one goal in seven home Champions League matches while livewire winger Ounajem created numerous goals.

Another two Moroccans, goalkeeper Zouheir Laaroubi and five-goal striker Achraf Bencharki, were among the six substitutes.

Wydad became African champions last Saturday for the first time since 1992 by defeating record eight-time title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt 1-0 in the second leg of the final.

The first encounter finished 1-1 in Alexandria the previous weekend.

Tunisia left-back Ali Maaloul and midfielder Moamen Zakaria, who contributed five goals between them during the CAF campaign, were the two Ahly stars to make the team.

Reigning Africa-based Footballer of the Year Denis Onyango from 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa was named goalkeeper. While team-mate Percy Tau also was among the illustrious list.

TEAM:

Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA); Hamdi Nagguez (Etoile Sahel/TUN), Youssef Rabeh (Wydad Casablanca/MAR), Farouk Chafai (USM Alger/ALG), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly/EGY); Brahim Nekkach (Wydad), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Etoile); Moamen Zakaria (Ahly), Percy Tau (Sundowns), Mohamed Ounajem (Wydad); Taha Yassine Khenissi (Esperance/TUN)

Substitutes: Zouheir Laaroubi (Wydad), Ahmed Fathy, Hossam Ashour (both Ahly), Fousseny Coulibaly (Esperance), Achraf Bencharki (Wydad), Oussama Darfalou (USM)

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