Latest news with #BotolaPro
Morocco World
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
31 Moroccan Players Set To Compete in The FIFA Club World Cup
Rabat – The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the US from June 15 to July 13, is set to feature 31 Moroccan players. With this number, Morocco reportedly has the highest representation of any African country in the global tournament. Globally, Morocco ranks 10th in player representation at the FIFA Club World Cup. Brazil is leading the list with 141 players, followed by Argentina (103), Spain (51), and Portugal (49). From a Moroccan perspective, Wydad Casablanca tops the list with 17 Moroccan players. Moroccan players are taking part in the competition through their international clubs, including Al Ain with four Moroccan players, followed by Al Ahly with three Moroccan players. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid each have two Moroccan players. Meanwhile, Al Hilal, Pachuca, and Bayern Munich each feature one Moroccan player. Player list Wydad casablanca (Morroco) : Youssef Moutia, Mohamed Moufid, Ismail Matarji, Noureddine Amrabat, Mehdi Benabid, Abdelmonem Boutawil, Jamal Harkas, Zakaria Fatihi, Fahd Movie, Mehdi Mobarik, Oussama Zemrawi, Ayoub Bouchta, Ismail Benqteeb, Hamza Henouri, Yassine Bennani, Omar Akzadou, Mohamed Rayan Mahtou. Al Ain (UAE) : Soufiane Rahimi, Yahya Benkhatib, Hussein Rahimi, Nassim Al Chadli Al Ahly (Egypt) : Achraf Bencharki, Yahya Attiat-Allah, Achraf Dari Paris Saint-Germain (France) : Achraf Hakimi, Nawfal al-Hanash Real Madrid (Spain) : Brahim Diaz, Youssef Lekhedim Al Hilal (saudia arabia): Yassine Bounou Pachuca (mixico) : Oussama Idrissi Bayern Munich (Germany) : Adam Aznou This tournament is a big opportunity for Moroccan football, especially for Botola Pro champions, Wydad. They will face elite clubs like Champions League winners Manchester City and Italian giants Juventus. Competing at this high-level tournament will help in showcasing Moroccan talent globally and underline the progress made in recent years. For national coach Walid Regragui, it's a valuable chance to see his key players tested against the world's best. Watching the Wydad core in competitive matches provides important preparation ahead of the African Cup of Nations. Tags: 2023 FIFA Club World Cup2026 FIFA World Cup
Morocco World
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco vs Benin: Possible Lineup, Score Prediction
Morocco return to action tonight against Benin in their second outing of the international break, looking to bounce back after an unconvincing performance against Tunisia. The match, although officially a friendly, carries weight. With the 2026 World Cup draw looming, head coach Walid Regragui is under pressure to refine his squad and pick up results that could boost the team's FIFA ranking. Kick-off is at 9 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and fans can catch the action live on Arryadia HD. The Tunisia win may have ended 2–0, but let's not kid ourselves, it wasn't convincing. The first half was flat, and a few big names didn't turn up. Youssef En-Nesyri looked lost, Sofyan Amrabat couldn't dictate the tempo, and Bilal El Khannouss seemed out of sync. Ismael Saibari, stuck out wide, was a tactical misfire. Changes are expected. Ayoub El Kaabi is pushing for a start after strong goals-scoring form with Olympiacos in the Greek league. At the same time, Soufiane Rahimi caught the eye with a lively cameo and could feature as a second supporting striker. Targhalline is also in contention to start as a holding midfielder ahead of Amrabat, with Regragui keen to find the perfect formula in the middle of the park. Tactically, Morocco may switch to a more compact shape. A midfield trio of Targhalline, Ounahi and El Khannouss could offer more stability, with the latter playing closer to the final third. In defense, Adam Masina impressed on his return and is likely to keep his place next to Jawad Al Yamiq. Achraf Hakimi remains vital down the right, and Youssef Belammari is tipped to start on the left. The Botola Pro and Confederation Cup Champion Munir Mohamedi could replace Yassine Bounou. Possible lineup: Munir – Hakimi, El Yamiq, Masina, Belammari – Targhalline, Ounahi, El Khannouss – Rahimi, Ben Seghir, El Kaabi Predicted score: Benin are expected to sit deep and absorb pressure from a technically superior Moroccan frontline. If the Atlas Lions manage to score early, confidence will surge, and the floodgates could very well open to bang more goals. MWN say: Morocco 3-0 Benin Tags: Achraf HakimiBeninfriendlyMoroccoWalid Regragui
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Regragui Drops Harkass from Morocco Squad
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has left Jamal Harkass out of the national team squad for this month's international friendlies, citing both technical decisions and the defender's current situation at Wydad Casablanca. Harkass had been part of previous camps and delivered average performances. Regragui says the time has come to assess new options in defence. 'Harkass is not in the squad because of my choices – and also due to his situation with his club,' Regragui told reporters. 'He's a player I know well and who has done well with us, but this camp is an opportunity to see other profiles.' Among those brought in is Abdelhak Assal, who played a key role in RS Berkane's title-winning campaign after lifting both the Botola Pro and the CAF Confederation Cup trophies. New faces in attack Regragui has also called up Marouan Sanadi, a forward he described as 'one for the future', and praised the form of Hamza Igamane, Ayoub El Kaabi, and Youssef En-Nesyri. 'Sanadi is a player I want to test in a national team shirt. It's important to see how he handles the weight of representing Morocco,' Regragui said. Morocco face Tunisia on Friday, 6 June, before meeting Benin on Monday, 9 June, with both matches set to take place in Fes. Tags: Jamal HarkassMorocco national teamWalid Regragui
Morocco World
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
How Much Will Berkane Earn After Winning Confederation Cup?
RS Berkane are expected to pocket a considerable sum of money after clinching their third CAF Confederation Cup title with a 3–1 aggregate victory over Tanzania's Simba SC. A 1–1 draw in Sunday's second leg in Zanzibar was enough for Berkane to secure the crown, having already built a two-goal advantage in the first leg. According to CAF, Berkane will receive $2 million in prize money. Simba, who opened the scoring through Joshua Mutale, will earn $1 million as runners-up. CAF pays tribute to Berkane The Confederation of African Football (CAF) praised Berkane's growing reputation on the continent following the victory. 'Five finals in six years. Three titles – 2020, 2022, and 2025,' CAF said in a statement. 'RS Berkane are firmly establishing themselves in the African football landscape.' The club has already secured the Moroccan Botola Pro league title this season and could complete a quadruple if they win the Cup of the Throne and the African Super Cup. Simba's early goal not enough Simba made a bright start in front of a home crowd in Zanzibar, taking the lead after 17 minutes. However, their momentum was disrupted early in the second half when Yusuf Kagoma was sent off following a second yellow card. Berkane continued to sit deep and hit Simba on the counter-attack. Simba's Steven Mukwala managed to put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Super Cup awaits The victory confirms Berkane as one of Africa's most consistent clubs in recent years, with three Confederation Cup titles in five seasons and five final appearances since 2019. They will now prepare for the CAF Super Cup, where they will face the winner of the CAF Champions League final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, who drew 1–1 in the first leg. Tags: CAFConfederation CupRS BerkaneSimba Tanzania
Morocco World
23-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Inside the Decline of Morocco's Botola Pro
Rabat – While Morocco's national football team has recently shone on the global stage, the Botola Pro league, the heart of Moroccan football, faces a concerning decline. In a recent interview with Morocco World News, sports analyst Abderrahim Ouchrif and sports law professor Moncef Lyazghi talked about the league's worrying decline. They pointed to key issues related to management, finance, player development, infrastructure, and media coverage. Management and Financial Crisis One of the biggest problems facing the Botola Pro is poor management. According to Ouchrif, many team managers simply don't have the academic background or strategic vision needed to run a professional football club. 'A major issue is the lack of proper management; most team managers aren't academically trained, have limited experience, and lack a clear, strategic plan,' he said. The financial situation makes things even worse. 'It's clear that most clubs are drowning in debt, which makes it nearly impossible for them to sign new players. 60 percent of clubs this year were banned from making transfers because of their financial problems,' he added Player Development and Coaching Issues Money problems are hurting both player development and the competitiveness of teams.q Ouchrif explained that a lot of clubs just don't pay enough attention to their youth academies, especially when it comes to training goal scorers, which are essential for any successful team. 'The league's top scorer only managed 11 goals this season, a low number for an entire tournament, and a clear sign of how much offensive play is struggling,' Ouchrif explained. Some clubs, like Fath Union Sport, RS Berkane, and Union Touarga, are doing better with youth development. But the big teams, like Wydad and Raja in Casablanca, are still struggling. As Ouchrif pointed out, 'around 90% of their players come from outside the club instead of their academies.' Coaching instability is another problem that's dragging down the quality of the game. Moroccan coaches often lean toward defensive tactics, not necessarily by choice, but because they fear losing their jobs. On top of that, they rarely get the backing they need from club management. 'Coaches aren't given the freedom to apply their ideas,' Ouchrif said. 'That lack of trust leads to poor performances on the pitch, and fans start to lose interest.' Infrastructure Challenges and Security Issues Stadium renovations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup have caused logistical and performance challenges. 'Teams like Hassania Agadir, Youssoufia Berrechid, and Rabat clubs have relocated to stadiums far from them, raising costs and lacking fan support,' Lyazghi said. The Casablanca teams' relocation from Mohamed V Stadium to Larbi Zaouli Stadium also disturbed preparations and attendance of supporters. Also, Fan behavior and stadium security cause additional challenges. Lyazghi highlighted fan riots as disruptive factors causing punishments, financial losses, and forced relocations. 'Empty stadiums hurt the game's energy and finances,' he said, pushing for stronger security, clear rules, and better fan awareness. Media and Refereeing Weaknesses Poor refereeing also weakens the league. Refereeing mistakes frequently occur despite VAR technology, leading to frustration among players and supporters, Ouchrif said. Additionally, poor media coverage further limits Botola's growth potential. 'Botola struggles to create visibility for its players and teams,' he observed. Strong media support is crucial for attracting sponsorship, fan excitement, and enhancing player recognition. Federation's Role and Recommended Solutions While the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has made remarkable efforts in funding and setting standards, its focus favors national teams. 'FRMF appears to be moving at two speeds, rapid advancement for national teams but slower progress for Botola,' Lyazghi pointed out. He suggested building on successful programs like the Mohammed VI Academy and OCP Group's training centers to strengthen Botola. 'With the right strategy, this project could be the key to strengthening the league,' Lyazghi concluded.
