RS Berkane coach Moine Chaâbani has taken a subtle jab at Wydad Casablanca coach Rulani Mokwena, referring to him as “famous” during a pre-match press conference in Durban.

Chaâbani cryptically wished Mokwena good luck at the Moroccan giants as they strive to reclaim their position in the Botola League.

Mokwena was appointed as Wydad coach during the off-season, and the South African coach is currently facing challenges as his side sits in fifth place in the league. Wydad has suffered four defeats this season, including a loss to Chaâbani’s Berkane in October.

“Of course, he is going to be a competitor and he was always and last year,” Chaâbani stated, speaking through a translator at Moses Mabhida Stadium after Berkane’s 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch in the CAF Confederation Cup. “When I was a manager of Esperance, I used to meet with Mokwena because I have met him before when he was assistant coach of Mamelodi Sundowns.”

Chaâbani, a two-time CAF Champions League winner with Esperance and a finalist in last year’s Confed Cup, concluded the press conference with a cryptic “All the best to him,” drawing laughter from the media.

Wydad’s disappointing performance last season, which saw them fail to qualify for the Champions League this season and the knockout stages of the competition last term, prompted the appointment of Mokwena. The club is now fighting to secure a top-four finish to regain their place in CAF club competitions.

On the other hand, Berkane is currently leading the Botola League with 27 points from 12 matches, eight points clear of Wydad. Chaâbani expressed the team’s ambition to either win the league or finish second to qualify for the Champions League.

“Last season, Raja and FAR Rabat made it so difficult for us to reach,” said Chaâbani, who hails from Tunisia. “They took the two places to qualify for the Champions League, so we finished third to qualify for the CAF Confed Cup. Our goal this year is to be first or at least second to qualify for the Champions League.”

Berkane, who defeated Pirates in the 2022 Confed Cup final on penalties, solidified their position at the top of Confed Cup Group B with six points from two matches by beating Stellenbosch 3-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. Stellenbosch, led by Steve Barker, sits at the bottom of the group with zero points.

Berkane will host Stade Malien Bamako in their third Confed Cup group stage match at Stade Municipal de Berkane on Sunday (21:00).