The Future of Rulani Mokwena at Wydad AC Hinges on CAF Champions League Qualification

Rulani Mokwena’s tenure at Wydad Athletic Club is at a critical juncture, with his future dependent on securing a top-two finish in the Moroccan Botola Pro 1 league. Club spokesperson for the executive office, Mohamed Talal, confirmed in an interview with Radio Mars, as per Sportle360, that the South African tactician’s position is directly linked to the team’s qualification for next season’s CAF Champions League.

Mokwena’s primary mandate for the 2023/24 season was to finish in the top two, ensuring Wydad’s return to Africa’s premier club competition. However, with five matches remaining, Wydad sits in fourth place, level on points with third-placed FUS Rabat and just two points behind second-placed AS FAR. The team trails FUS Rabat on goal difference, making the race for CAF Champions League qualification a tense affair.

The league title is already out of reach, with RS Berkane securing the championship well ahead of the season’s conclusion. This leaves Mokwena and his team focusing solely on clinching a top-two finish, as failure to do so would likely spell the end of his time at Wydad. Talal reinforced this stance, stating, “Achieving first or second place is essential, and failing to do so will lead to him leaving Wydad.”

Wydad’s campaign has been inconsistent, with last season’s fifth-place finish already resulting in the club missing out on CAF Champions League football. Now, Mokwena faces immense pressure to turn things around in the final stretch of the season. With competition stiff and margins razor-thin, every remaining fixture will be crucial in determining both Wydad’s fate and Mokwena’s future at the club.