Rulani Mokwena’s time at Wydad AC has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and now, with the end of the season in sight, that ride might be coming to a disappointing stop.
Despite early promise and bold ambitions, Wydad’s grip on a CAF inter-club competition spot is starting to slip — and fast.
A Night That Started Strong, Ended in Disappointment
On Wednesday evening, Wydad faced Olympic Safi in what was a must-win fixture in the Moroccan Botola Pro 1 league.
It looked like the team had their act together early on — Oussama Zemraoui found the back of the net just three minutes in, giving fans a burst of hope that their Champions League dreams were still alive.
But football can be cruel.
Down to 10 and Out of Luck
With just under 20 minutes to go, Wydad’s El Mehdi Moubarik was shown a red card, leaving the side with ten men on the pitch. That moment proved costly.
Olympic Safi turned up the pressure, and in the 87th minute, Mehdi Ashabi delivered a devastating equalizer.
Just like that, a promising lead dissolved into Wydad’s sixth consecutive league draw — a streak that’s becoming more of a curse than a coincidence.
A Slippery Position on the Table
The draw keeps Wydad sitting in third place on the league table, but it’s hardly a comfortable spot.
They’re now five points adrift of AS FAR Rabat, who sit in second place with just three games remaining.
That gap could prove fatal in their chase for CAF Champions League qualification.
To make matters more nerve-wracking, FUS Rabat and RCA Zemamra are both only a single point behind Wydad.
If either — or both — of those clubs overtake them in the remaining fixtures, Wydad will miss out on continental football next season.
Mokwena’s Mandate Under Threat
When Rulani Mokwena joined Wydad, one of the key expectations was clear: get the team back into CAF’s prestigious inter-club tournaments.
But with results like these piling up, that goal looks increasingly unlikely.
Adding more uncertainty to the situation is the fact that Mokwena is set to leave Wydad at the end of the season.
So if the club fails to secure a top finish, it’ll be someone else picking up the pieces next season.
Is Rulani’s Moroccan Mission Falling Apart?
It’s a tough question, and one that fans and football pundits are asking more frequently.
Can Mokwena turn it around in the final stretch? Or is this the end of the road for both him and Wydad’s Champions League hopes?
Feel free to share your thoughts — is Rulani underdelivering, or has luck simply not been on Wydad’s side?