Photo Credit: Wydad Athletic Club- WAC
Editor Note: This article is translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi
The draw for the 2025 Club World Cup placed Wydad Casablanca in a tough group, alongside giants Manchester City, Juventus and Al Ain. However, Rhulani Mokwena, the South African coach of the Moroccan club, displays measured optimism, well aware of the scale of the challenge but determined to make his team shine on the world stage.
“It's a very nice group even if it is difficult,” Mokwena said in an exclusive interview with Wydad’s official YouTube channel. “We will face world-class teams, like Manchester City, the flagship club in England led by Guardiola, or Juventus, a colossus of Italian football. Without forgetting Al Ain, a big name in Asian football."
For its third participation in the Club World Cup, Wydad hopes to reach an important milestone. Mokwena sets a clear objective: to achieve a historic first victory in this competition. “In our previous participations, we never won a match. This time we have to win at least one game. We want to prove that we belong among the best and see how far that can take us."
Aware of the difficulties, Mokoena also prefers to see the glass half full: “If we fail to qualify for the finals, this experience against giants like City and Juve will be invaluable. This will strengthen our team for the seasons to come."
The Wydad coach, a fan of a game inspired by Pep Guardiola's tactical principles, sees this competition as a unique opportunity: “We are trying to develop a style of play of our own, close to that of Manchester City. These matches will be an excellent showcase for Wydad and a chance to position the club on the world football map."
As Wydad prepares for this titanic challenge, Mokwena concludes with ambition and determination: “This tournament is not just a competition, it is a chance for Wydad to show the world the quality of Moroccan football and to measure itself to the best. We have confidence in our abilities."
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