Newly Promoted Team Sinks Rulani’s Wydad
Newly Promoted side Club Omnisports De Meknes claimed a 2-0 victory over Rulani Mokwena’s Wydad Athletic Club in a Botola Pro League encounter at Hassan the Second stadium on Wednesday evening.
Interestingly, the 2023/24 Botola Pro 2 champions needed two penalties in the second half to overcome Mokwena’s side amid the South African mentor’s recent calls for improvement in officiating in the Moroccan top-flight.
However, Mokwena’s troops were awarded a penalty of their own but center-forward Mbaye Niang who was signed on a free transfer after parting ways with Serie A outfit Empoli FC in the off-season, couldn’t add to his two-goal tally as he failed to convert the spot kick. Meanwhile, former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula was introduced from the bench in the 81st minute to make his fourth league appearance of the season, having started only two matches of the ongoing Botola Pro campaign so far.
The upset has seen the Moroccan giants’ run of five games unbeaten in the league come to an end, which saw them drop down to sixth place on the standings with 11 points accumulated after seven matches played. While this is Wydad’s first loss against CODM in their last five league meetings dating back to 2011, the 22-time Moroccan champions will shift their focus to a blockbuster clash on Saturday, 26 October, when they lock horns against RS Berkane at home.
Mouin Chaabani’s side moved to the top of the table with 14 points following a 1-0 win over JS Soualem on the same day, as the 43-year-old tactician aims to win the club its first-ever league title in the top-flight division.
The last time RS Berkane defeated Wydad in a Botola Pro fixture was back in August 2020, before lifting the 2022 CAF Super Cup with the Red Castle’s scalp in the final en route to their third continental silverware.
