Two top clubs from the Arab World will clash to start off the quarterfinal round of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday when competition hosts Wydad AC of Morocco face off against reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal. The winner will advance to the semifinals for a matchup against South American champions Flamengo of Brazil, making Saturday’s duel in the Moroccan capital of Rabat one with plenty at stake.
Wydad are the reigning African and Moroccan champions but the club has struggled in their 2022-23 domestic campaign, currently sitting in second position on the Botola Pro table. Coach Mehdi Nafti has not won over Wydad’s demanding supporters since taking over for Houcine Ammouta for the beginning of the new year. However the Red Castle will have a noticeable home advantage on Saturday and are determined to utilize it to meet high expectations.
A notable absence is 2021-22 CAF Champions League final Player of the Match and forward Zouhair El Moutaraji who is not in the tournament squad while he recovers from injury. The attacking department is where Wydad have struggled this season and new loan signing Didier Lamkel Zé may get his opportunity after appearing as a substitute in the last two matches to gain fitness. Senegalese striker Junior Bouly Sambou is returning from injury and could be an option as well.
Attacking midfielder/forward Aymane El Hassouni is the team’s most reliable attacking option with a career-high six goals in league play. Reda Jaadi is a clever midfielder along with defensive midfield presence Yahya Jabrane, the team’s captain who participated with Morocco during their historic 2022 FIFA World Cup run. Another Morocco national team player on the team is reliable left back Yahya Attiyat-Allah and Ayoub El Amloud is also capable of contributing in defense and attack at the right back position.
Al-Hilal are currently in third position on the Saudi Pro League table and boast plenty of high-priced talent in their squad. Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo is the most notable name in the attack along with Peruvian winger André Carrillo and Argentina’s Luciano Vietto, formerly of Villarreal fame.
Colombian deep-lying midfielder Gustavo Cuéllar and former South Korea national team central defender Hyun-Soo Jang are the notable names in defense. Hilal boast several players who were important contributors to Saudi Arabia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign including Saleh Al Shehri who scored the match winner in their upset of world champions Argentina and starting goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.
More on both teams are in the links below.
