Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Hakim Bahechar
Published on 2024-04-10 09:55:03
Limited to two contenders, the title race is becoming increasingly tight. Wydad could play the role of party pooper and offer an unexpected gift to Raja in case of victory against the leader.
After a long break mainly due to the international break and the scheduling of the Round of 16 of the Throne Cup, the Botola Pro D1 inwi is back in action with the 25th round promising intensity and spectacle.
Undoubtedly, the classic match on Saturday between Wydad Casablanca and AS FAR at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia will be the highlight of this round. This will be the Reds’ first match under the leadership of new coach Aziz Ben Asker, who succeeded Tunisian Faouzi Benzerti.
“Delighted to announce Aziz Ben Asker as our new head coach! Welcome aboard, coach,” the club announced on social media, without giving further details.
Former Moroccan international, Ben Asker is no stranger to the national championship, having coached Maghreb de Fès at the beginning of 2023.
After 24 rounds of Botola Pro D1 “inwi” football, Wydad is fifth in the standings with 37 points. In the Throne Cup, the Reds were eliminated in the Round of 16 after their defeat against Jeunesse Sportive Salmi. The clash against the league leader represents an opportunity to break the cycle of poor results. Putting an end to AS FAR’s dominance would not only be a simple victory but also a real boost for a team in doubt.
However, nothing seems to stop the Military’s artillery, who aim to both win the game, solidify their position, and achieve an eighth consecutive victory.
This duel will be watched closely by Raja, who, for once, will want to see their eternal rival defeat their direct opponent. AS FAR’s defeat would allow Raja – in case of victory against Chabab Mohammedia – to significantly reduce the gap and bring it down from 4 to just one point.
Quietly, Renaissance de Berkane has progressed discreetly, taking advantage of FUS Rabat’s missteps to take third place. A position they will seek to secure with a potential victory on Sunday against Olympic de Safi. The Safi team, who alternates between wins and losses, are not mathematically excluded from the race for an African continental competition spot and will spare no effort against their new opponent.
As for FUS, they will play at home against their neighbor Union de Touarga with the goal of getting back to winning ways after two consecutive losses. In the first leg, the two teams drew a blank.
Another derby that will grab attention is Moghreb de Tétouan who, in the middle of the table, will host Ittihad de Tanger at Saniat Rmal Stadium on Sunday. The latter has not yet secured their safety as they are just three points ahead of the first relegation spot.
While the specter of relegation is only teasing the people of Tangier, it is on the verge of suffocating the Hrizis of Youssoufia Berrechid, who are bottom of the table with 16 points. To get out of this mess, CAYB is obliged to either win all their matches at best, or avoid any defeats at worst. Their trip to Fès will be crucial for the rest of their journey.
In other matches, Hassania Agadir will face off against Mouloudia Oujda, who is also fighting to avoid the drop.
Finally, this 25th round will be concluded by the match between Jeunesse Soualem and Renaissance Zemamra.
Read the original article(French) on Aujourdhui.ma
