African Giants Plot Mokwena Appointment
Former Wydad Athletic Club coach Rulani Mokwena has reportedly emerged as a top candidate for a top African side as he is currently unattached to any club following his premature exit at the Moroccan giants.
The 38-year-old mentor is currently assessing his options ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 campaign and is said to be in no rush to take up a new project after a tumultuous experience up North in Casablanca.
Mokwena signed a three-year deal with the 22-time Moroccan champions shortly after parting ways with Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of the 2023/24 season, but was relieved of his duties before the conclusion of his first term in charge.
Having accepted the offer on the back of the club’s dismal sixth-place finish in the Botola Pro League a season before, the South African tactician was on the backfoot as there was immense pressure to quickly resurrect the sleeping giant, while results have been inconsistent.
However, Wydad staged a respectable finish to the 2024/25 campaign, finishing in third place to secure a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup. This was thanks to Mokwena’s foundation laid for his successor, Mohamed Amine Benhachem, who saw out the season and the FIFA Club World Cup.
In the wake of his departure from the Red Castle, reports emerged that newly crowned CAF Champions League winners Pyramids FC of Egypt are interested in luring him to Cairo as Krunoslav Jurcic’s future hangs in the balance despite guiding the ambitious team to continental glory.
Moreover, the highly sought-after coach was heavily linked with a move to his former club, Orlando Pirates. Still, a deal never materialized as the Soweto giants eventually announced the appointment of Abdeslam Ouaddou as Jose Riveiro’s replacement.
In addition, recent reports from Tanzania claim Tanzanian giants Young Africans are plotting an audacious move to appoint the outspoken gaffer following the departure of Miloud Hamdi, although there are slight concerns on whether a potential deal can be financially viable.
Now, whispers echoing from Algeria suggest that Algerian Ligue 1 champions MC Alger are in advanced negotiations with Mokwena over possibly taking over from Tunisian mentor Khaled Ben Yahia, who left the club after successfully helping them defend their league title.
Alger, who were knocked out in the Champions League quarterfinals by Pirates last season, are believed to also have ex-Al Ahly boss Marcell Koller on their shortlist of plausible candidates to steer the ship in the new season.
