In the game Wydad dominated, they hit the front with only three minutes played. Ayoub Boucheta dribbled into the United box before steering home a superb effort.
Wydad continued to control the tempo thereafter and the Moroccan giants doubled their lead just before the half-time break when Mohamed Bouchouari arrived from deep to finish a flowing move in the 44th minute, giving the hosts a deserved 2-0 advantage.
The promoted Kenyan side triumphed 7-6 on penalties against Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel after a 2-2 aggregate score over two legs, to qualify for a memorable group stage campaign.
In the second half, United, under coach Nicholas Muyoti and assistant Salim Ali, continued to struggle breaking down Wydad’s rearguard. A yellow card for Boniface Mzee in the 72nd minute underlined a frustrating evening for the visitors, who kept working but were not good enough in the final third.
With United, who are nicknamed Naibois, remaining poor upfront, Wydad sealed their emphatic victory with four minutes remaining until the final whistle. Substitute Mohamed Rayhi finished off a neat exchange that began with a superb pass from Walid Sabbar.
The victory enabled Wydad to move top of Group B after matchday one, with a superior goal difference to AS Maniema Union of DR Congo, who defeated Azam FC 2-0 in the other fixture.
Against Azam, Maniema saw Christian Panzi open the scoring, before substitute Chadoma Ozome added a second late on. United will next face Maniema in their matchday two on November 30, Sunday.
Zamalek floor Zesco United, USM Alger triumph
Meanwhile, in another Confederation Cup fixture, Zesco United began their group stage campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Zamalek SC at the Cairo International Stadium.
Zamalek started strongly and created early threats, but goalkeeper Philip Sakauta produced several good saves to keep the match level. The hosts eventually broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute through Seifeddine Jaziri, giving them a 1-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, Zesco introduced Pascal Phiri and Peter Musukuma in place of Abraham Siankombo and Solomon Sakala. The changes brought improved momentum, with Zesco United controlling large parts of the half and creating opportunities, but the team was unable to convert the chances.
Zesco will shift focus to their next CAF fixture against Al Masry set for Friday, November 28, at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Elsewhere, in Group A, Olympique de Safi and USM Alger both made winning starts to take early control. Safi produced one of the most impressive results of the round, earning a composed 1-0 away victory at Djoliba thanks to Salaheddine Errahouli’s well-taken strike.
In Algiers, USM Alger edged a five-goal thriller, beating San Pedro 3-2. Goals from Houssem Ghacha, Adem Alilet and Saadi Radouani were enough to hold off the Ivorians, who replied through Dramane Kamagate and Mouhammadou Karamoko.
In Group C, South African side Stellenbosch FC opened their campaign with a dramatic last-gasp win over DR Congo’s AS Otoho at New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
