With Rulani Mokwena nearing the midway of the Botola Pro season, Soccer Laduma assesses what could prolong or shorten his stay at Wydad Casablanca.
Pressure on Mokwena to get Wydad back to challenging for the league title is mounting and the high expectations at the Red Castle make reports that a section of supporters are already calling for his removal, not surprising.
The Soweto native coach could bide his time at the helm, as the Moroccan giants ultimately would want to qualify for the CAF Champions as a first objective rather than become league challengers overnight.
Last season after the first ten games of the league season, Wydad amassed 22 points out of a maximum of 30 points, with 19 points won under former coach Adel Ramzi, who was relieved of his duties in mid December 2023, not because of the league form but a bad start in the CAF Champions League group stages.
Read: Williams Falls Just Short Of FIFA The Best GK Nomination
Mokwena, in terms of points, has not done better, after Wydad under his tutelage accumulated 15 points from his first ten league games.
The Red Castle rued letting go of Ramzi, after they missed out on qualifying for the CAF Champions League quarter-final by the skin of their teeth under veteran coach Faouzi Benzarti, who also lost the African Football League (AFL) final to Mamelodi Sundowns under Mokwena.
Wydad eventually parted ways Benzarti, who was at the club for the fourth time, in February this year, after their league form also got worse.
The Red Castle missed out on qualifying for the CAF Champions League for the first time in nine years after they finished sixth in the 2023/24 standings.
Read: Revealed: Why Folz Was Not With Downs
With no continental football in the current season, Wydad would be inclined to give Mokwena time to build as RSB Berkane are pulling away at the top of the standings.
However, should Wydad not keep up with the likes of MAS Fes and AS FAR for at least a runner-up spot, which also gives entry to the CAF Champions League, the former Sundowns coach's future in Casablanca could start to hang by a thread.
