Wydad Casablanca have announced the departure of their head coach, Rhulani Mokwena, with immediate effect.
The decision comes after a disappointing run of form that has seen the Moroccan giants slip out of the CAF Champions League qualification spots in the Botola Pro league with only three matches remaining in the season.
The club confirmed the news earlier today, with reports indicating that the separation was a mutual agreement between Mokwena and the Wydad management.
The final straw appears to have been the team’s recent 1-1 draw against Olympic Club de Safi. Despite leading for the majority of the match, a late red card proved costly as OC Safi equalized just two minutes later, further denting Wydad’s hopes of securing a top-two finish.
Mokwena, who took the reins at the Red Castle, managed to guide the team to third place, an improvement from their sixth-place finish in the previous season.
However, club officials reportedly felt that this progress fell short of the club’s lofty ambitions and expectations, particularly regarding securing a spot in the prestigious CAF Champions League.
Following Mokwena’s exit, Wydad Casablanca have swiftly appointed Amine Benhachem as the interim coach until the end of the current campaign.
Benhachem will now be tasked with the crucial mission of rallying the team in their final three league fixtures to try and salvage a Champions League spot.
Meanwhile, speculation is already rife regarding Mokwena’s next destination. Reports emanating from South Africa suggest that the highly-rated coach is a potential candidate to succeed Jose Riveiro at Orlando Pirates.
