14 July 2011
Wydad Casablanca have won the CAF Champions League once: in 1992 they defeated Sudan’s Al Hilal 2-0 on aggregate in the final. This is their first appearance in the last eight of the competition since that triumph nearly two decades ago and they will be hard pressed to advance any further from a challenging Group B.
State of the team
Wydad Casablanca finished a distant third in the 2010/11 Moroccan GNF 1, a full nine points off the pace of champions (and hated cross-town rivals) Raja Casablanca.
The Moroccan top flight is one of the more competitive leagues in Africa, so a third place finish is not something to be sniffed at, but it looks as if Raja are the country’s best hope in the Champions League – something that will strengthen the resolve of the Red and Whites to outperform their rivals in the competition.
Wydad can be considered fortunate to be in the last eight of the Champions League: they were ousted in the final preliminary round by TP Mazembe, but the defending champs were later disqualified. The Moroccans, gifted a second chance, then defeated Tanzanian side Simba in a special playoff to clinch a place in the group phase.
Strengths
Defence is certainly Wydad’s strong point. They conceded just 18 goals in 30 Moroccan GNF 1 matches in 2010/11, the best record in the league.
The Red and Whites will not be an easy side to break down, and they will look to capitalise on any ill-discipline or frustration from their opponents.
Their Group B opponents can expect a tactical battle against a well-drilled and well organised side. They are also rock-solid at home, having won all three of their preliminary round home matches in the Champions League (including one against TP Mazembe) without conceding a goal.
Weaknesses
While their defence is almost watertight, Wydad’s attack isn’t quite up to scratch. In the 2010/11 GNF 1 they scored just 31 goals from 30 matches – that may have been the equal-third best attacking record for the season (behind the top two of Raja and Maghreb Fes) but for a team playing at the level of the CAF Champions League, that is simply not good enough.
The Red and Whites will look to the likes of Mouhcine Iajour and Fabrice N’Guessi to up their goal scoring tally.
The coach
Michel Decastel has just begun his second spell with Wydad Casablanca, having coached the Moroccans back in 2003/04. The Swiss was hired in June 2011 by the club, signing a one-year contract.
Decastel, 55, has plenty of prior experience in North African football after spells at CS Sfaxien, Etoile Sahel and Zamalek, and he has also managed ASEC Mimosas and worked at several clubs in Switzerland.
The new manager will be tasked with guiding Wydad into the semifinals, but it will be no easy task against the likes of Esperance, MC Alger and Al Ahly.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Nadir Lamyaghiri, Karim Fegrouche, Yassine Bounou
Defenders: Mourad Lemsen, Abderrahmane Mssassi, Youssef Rabeh, Hicahm Louissi, Jamal Alioui, Abderahim Benkhajjan, Mohamed Barakat, Khalid Sekkat
Midfielders: Ayoub Skouma, Ahmed Ajeddou, Mohamed Berrabah, Farid Talhaoui, Houcine Zidoune, Abderrahman Kabous, Abdelhak Ait El Arif, Youness Mankari, Pascal Angan
Forwards: Mustapha Bidoudane, Mouhcine Iajour, Fabrice N’Guessi, Mustapha Allaoui, Ayoub El Khaliqi
Click here for player profilesÂ
Fixtures
17/07/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Al Ahly v Wydad Casablanca
30/07/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wydad Casablanca v MC Alger
14/07/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wydad Casablanca v Esperance
27/08/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esperance v Wydad Casablanca
10/09/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wydad Casablanca v Al Ahly
16/09/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MC Alger v Wydad Casablanca
See more here:
Team Profile: Wydad Casablanca