Moroccan Championship Roundup: Defending Champions Triumph
On October 4, 2026, Morocco's football scene witnessed an exhilarating round of matches in the Moroccan Championship. Defending champions, FUS Rabat, showcased their determination to retain their title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over HUSA Agadir. Meanwhile, Wydad Casablanca managed to find their footing again, securing a convincing 2-0 win against Difaâ Hassani Jadidi. In a notable turn of events, newly-promoted team Amal Tiznit achieved a historic victory, defeating Fath Rabat 1-0, marking their first win in the top tier.
For the second consecutive week, Moroccan fans were deprived of a highly anticipated clash between RS Berkane, last season's runner-up, and the fourth-placed Royal Army, due to the international commitments of three players from Berkane. This postponement followed the earlier rescheduling of the classic match-up between the Royal Army and their arch-rivals, Raja Casablanca, also for similar reasons.
The newly appointed coach of FUS Rabat, Portuguese Rui Almeida, took over from Spanish Pablo Franco, who left to coach Tunisian club ES Tunis after leading FUS to their fifth league title last season—its first since 1985. Under Almeida's guidance, FUS demonstrated their readiness to defend their crown by overcoming the geographical challenges of a long-distance away game, traveling approximately 750 kilometers to face HUSA Agadir.
FUS Rabat took control of the match early on, with goals from Anas Mahraoui in the 27th minute and South African Chigo Maphasa, who converted a penalty in the 39th minute. Despite a late penalty from HUSA Agadir's Imad Rayahi in the 56th minute, the hosts could not prevent their first defeat of the season. Almeida praised his players for their performance, emphasizing the importance of securing an away victory, and expressed his desire for continuous improvement in both performance and results.
In a parallel story, Ittihad Tanger mirrored the champions' success with their second consecutive win, narrowly overcoming newly promoted Wydad Témara with a score of 1-0. Wydad Témara, who stunned fans with a surprising 3-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca in their first league match, faced a tougher challenge against Ittihad Tanger. Coach Abdel Salam Benjelloun expressed that the derby match was evenly matched, but their inability to convert chances into goals cost them dearly.
Wydad Casablanca, the nation’s most decorated club with 22 league titles, bounced back from their earlier defeat against Wydad Témara with a solid 2-0 victory over Difaâ Hassani Jadidi, alleviating some pressure off coach Paulo Sergio Brito. Brito faced significant scrutiny following the loss to Wydad Témara, but his team’s renewed strategy proved effective in this match. He acknowledged the importance of controlling the game better than in their previous encounter, which ultimately led to their success.
In contrast, the fans of Difaâ Hassani Jadidi expressed their frustration following their second consecutive home loss, having previously suffered a heavy 6-2 defeat against Mouloudia de Meknes in the opening match. Meanwhile, Raja Casablanca, Wydad's traditional rivals, began their season with a narrow victory against Nahda Zemamra, with the only goal scored by midfielder Othman Sharibi in the 27th minute. Coach Paco Jimenez criticized his players for their second-half performance, highlighting the need for improvement to maintain control during matches.
Amal Tiznit celebrated their first-ever league win with a single goal by Zakaria Salhi in the 57th minute against Fath Rabat, a victory that significantly boosts their morale as they navigate their inaugural season in the top division. Additionally, Kawkab Marrakech secured their first win of the season with a 1-0 result against Mouloudia de Meknes, while the northern derby between Ittihad Tanger and Moghreb Tétouan ended in a 1-1 draw, showcasing the competitive nature of this year's championship.
As reported by casa24.ma.
