Mokwena leaves Wydad Casablanca, misses out on Club World Cup

Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates coach Rulani Mokwena has left his Moroccan club Wydad Casablance after a run of disappointing results for the former African champions.

It ends a nine-month adventure in North Africa for the 38-year-old coach, who was fired by Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of last season despite leading them to the Betway Premiership and taking the club to the Nedbank Cup final and semifinals of the African Champions League.

Mokwena’s departure from Wydad has not yet been announced by the club but confirmed on Friday by Morocco’s sports newspaper Al Mountakhab.

Mokwena had a contract until 2027 but earlier in the month announced he would be leaving at the end of the season.

But his departure was hastened after a run of six successive draws in the Botola Pro League left Wydad six points adrift of second-placed Royal Armed Forces in the race for Champions League places next season. They were also bundled out of the Throne Cup in the last-16 by Mohgreb Tetotuan.

Mokwena’s departure means he misses out on taking the Moroccan outfit to the Club World Cup in the United States in June, where he would have come up against his idol Pep Guardiola of Manchester City.