Club: Wydad Casablanca
Country: Morocco
Coach: Mohamed Amine Benhachem
Captain: Nordin Amrabat
Group: G
Opponents: Juventus (Italy), Manchester City (England), Al Ain (UAE)
Fixtures
MD1:v Manchester City
MD2:v Juventus
MD3:v Al Ain
“I respect all these clubs, which are renowned in their leagues and have top-level players, but it’s the details that make the difference in these kinds of matches,” The Red Castle ex-captain, Jamal Harkass, was confident speaking ahead of the tournament. Where is the confidence coming from after enjoying a very disastrous season under young South African head coach Rulani Mokwena?
Of all the four African representatives in the maiden edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, Wydad Casablanca is the side that has the most difficult task. The club finished 3rd in the Moroccan Botola compared to Al Ahly, Sundowns and Esperance, who won their domestic leagues. They did not compete in either the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederation Cup, unlike their rivals.
The club reached an agreement with Mokwena to step down as the head coach because they did not meet their target. He was replaced with 49-year-old Amine Benhachem, who has been tasked to revive the club, starting with the Club World Cup. The Moroccan head coach was the Sporting Director, and the club hierarchy believes he understands the club’s philosophy.
Three new free agents have joined the club ahead of the competition: Amrabat Nordin from Hull City in England, Hannouri Hamza from Moroccan club FUS and Meijers Bart from Bosnian club Borac Banja Luka.
Benktib Ishamel returned from loan from Moghreb Tetouan and was named in the squad for the USA.
The biggest signing was Burkinabe international Stephane Aziz Ki, who joined from Tanzanian side Young Africans will be expected to dazzle at the world stage.
Experienced South African duo Thembinkosi Lorch and Cassius Mailula will complement the club’s attacking options.
Wydad’s squad is so rich by African standards, but will be so tiny in the presence of European giants, Manchester City and Juventus.
Wydad Squad for the Club World Cup
Goalkeepers: Omar Aqzdaou, Youssef El Motie, El Mehdi Benabid
Defenders: Fahad Moufi, Ayoub Bouchta, Bart Meijers, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Jamal Harakass, Mohamed Moufid
Midfielders: Ismail Moutaraji, Oussama Zemraoui, Mehdi Moubarik, Zakaria Fatihi, Thembinkosi Lorch, Stephane Aziz Ki, Ismael Benktib, Pedrinho, Arthur, Mickael Malsa
Forwards: Mohamed Rayhi, Samuel Obeng, Selemani Mwalimo, Cassisus Mailula, Nordi Amrabat, Hamza Hannouri
