Wydad Casablanca confirm Rulani Mokwena as new head coach

Former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has officially been appointed as the new coach of Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Athletic Club, confirming his move to North Africa after his departure from Sundowns despite leading them to their seventh consecutive DStv Premiership title.

Following his dismissal, Mokwena immediately dismissed any notions of a break from football, confident that offers would swiftly follow his exit from the Tshwane giants.

True to his belief, offers flooded in, culminating in Wydad Athletic Club securing his services, as announced on Thursday.

At just 37 years old, Mokwena boasts an impressive resume with four league titles and three Coach of the Season awards under his belt.

His arrival at Wydad comes during a challenging period for the club, which finished sixth in the Botola Pro 1 last season, overshadowed by city rivals Raja Casablanca’s dominant title run under Josef Zinnbauer and AS FAR Rabat's strong second-place finish under Nasreddine Nabi.

Interestingly, Nabi’s success at AS FAR has earned him the head coach position at Kaizer Chiefs.

Mokwena’s tenure at Wydad also marks a continuation of his rivalry with the club, highlighted by Mamelodi Sundowns' victory over Wydad in last year's African Football League final and their competitive encounters in the CAF Champions League, cementing their rivalry on the continental stage.