Mailula Nets To Propel Rulani’s Wydad Into CAFCL Spot

Cassius Mailula continued his dazzling form in the Botola Pro League as he found the back of the net in Wydad Casablanca’s emphatic 5-1 win over Chabab Mohammedia at Stade El Bachir Mohammedia on Sunday night.

The South African international opened the scoring with a glancing header in the 34th minute before Dutch winger Mohammed Rayhi converted a spot kick to double the lead for his eighth league goal of the season six minutes into the second half.

Rulani Mokwena’s men thought they put the game to bed with a third goal, but it was ruled out, which allowed the home side to find a way back into the game courtesy of Youssef Dalouzi. Wydad eventually got assurance of claiming maximum points with three late goals with six minutes remaining.

Overall, the Mamelodi Sundowns academy product has scored three goals and provided five assists in 18 Botola Pro League appearances thus far, which is likely to prompt the Red Castle to secure his services on a permanent transfer.

For the 38-year-old former Masandawana mentor, the big win saw his side extend their winning streak to five matches in the league. During that period, the Moroccan giants have scored 13 goals and conceded just three.

This is the first time Wydad has won five league games on the trot since doing so in a title-winning 2020/21 campaign under Faouzi Benzarti, who has recently taken over at Tunisian outfit US Monastir earlier this month.

The result propelled the 22-time Moroccan champions to second place on the log standings—a CAF Champions League spot. Mokwena has been tasked with returning continental football to the red side of Casablanca after a dismal sixth-place finish last season saw them miss out.

With 39 points accumulated after 21 [W11 D6 L4] league outings, Wydad is 13 points behind runaway log leaders RS Berkane, who have 50 points with one defeat this season and are on course for their first-ever league title under the tutelage of Mouin Chaabani.