Four weeks before our clash with Manchester City at the inaugural Club World Cup, Wydad coach Lulani Mokwena parted ways with the Moroccan team during a match in Philadelphia.
Wydad announced that the club and Mokwena “mutually agreed to terminate the contract with immediate effect.” The statement was made late Monday.
Wydad has not revealed plans for a replacement for the South African coach ahead of their trip to the U.S. for the expanded 32-team FIFA Club Tournament, commencing on June 14th.
After the match against City on June 18th, Wydad will remain in Philadelphia to face Juventus, before heading to Washington, DC to compete against Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates.
Wydad’s preparations could be impacted due to FIFA’s ban on signing new players. A Special Transfer Window is expected in early June. FIFA typically enforces a registration ban on clubs with outstanding debts for transfer fees or unpaid wages.
I will contribute $9.55 million to each of the four African teams that won the continental Champions League from 2021 to 2024 and are participating in the Club World Cup.
Wydad clinched the African Champions League title under coach Walid Regragui in 2022. He departed as the Moroccan coach, leading the team to become the first from Africa to reach the World Cup semi-finals within months.
Mokwena’s successor will be the 10th coach in three years at Wydad following Regragui’s exit.
Under Mokwena, Wydad finished third in the Moroccan League and will not participate in next season’s Champions League. Reports from South Africa indicate that coaches have gone several months without pay.
“In a joint statement with Mokwena on Monday, Wydad expressed heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed president (Hicham Ait Menna) for his visionary leadership and unwavering support.”
Mokwena also extended wishes for “incredible success” to Wydad at the Club World Cup.
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Source: apnews.com