Football : RS Berkane Crowned Moroccan Champions

Casablanca’s Wydad will kick off its 2025 Club World Cup with a game against England’s Manchester City on June 18 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, according to the program unveiled on Saturday by FIFA.

On June 22 at the same stadium, Wydad will face Juventus (Italy), before finishing the first round of Group G on June 26 at Audi Field in Washington D.C. against Soufiane Rahimi’s Emirati club Al Aïn, FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA opted for bringing forward the opening match to June 14, where Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will host Al Ahly of Egypt. The tournament final is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 13, 2025.

For the first time, the Club World Cup brings together 32 teams, including 12 European clubs, 6 from South America, 4 from Africa, 4 from Asia, 4 from North America and one from Oceania.

The 16 clubs finishing at the top two places in each of the eight groups will qualify for the knockout phase.

FIFA also confirms the initial phase of ticket sales for the 48 group stage matches will open on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m. GMT+1) exclusively on FIFA.com/tickets, where fans can already register their interest in purchasing tickets.

Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca will compete in Group G alongside Manchester City, Juventus, and Al Ain during the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, following Thursday’s draw held in Miami.  

This revamped tournament features 32 teams, including 12 from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Africa, Asia, and North America, and one representative from Oceania.

The 16 clubs finishing in the top two spots of each of the eight groups will progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.  

The draw ceremony took place in Miami, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several football legends.  

The tournament is set to be hosted in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, with the final scheduled to take place at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New York.

Here is the breakdown of all groups for the tournament:
Group A

    Palmeiras (Brazil)
    Porto (Portugal)
    Al Ahly (Egypt)
    Inter Miami (USA)

Group B

    Paris Saint-Germain (France)
    Atletico Madrid (Spain)
    Botafogo (Brazil)
    Seattle Sounders (USA)

Group C

    Bayern Munich (Germany)
    Auckland City (New Zealand)
    Boca Juniors (Argentina)
    Benfica (Portugal)

Group D

    Flamengo (Brazil)
    Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
    Chelsea (England)
    Club Leon (Mexico)

Group E

    River Plate (Argentina)
    Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
    Monterrey (Mexico)
    Inter Milan (Italy)

Group F

    Fluminense (Brazil)
    Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
    Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
    Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Group G

    Manchester City (England)
    Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
    Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
    Juventus (Italy)

Group H

    Real Madrid (Spain)
    Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
    Pachuca (Mexico)
    Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

Morocco’s AS FAR on Tuesday secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Egypt’s FC Masar to reach the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Touted as favorites, the defending Moroccan champions showed their determination to continue their journey. From the first whistle, they displayed sharp focus, leaving no room for chance.

Their intensity quickly paid off. In the 11th minute, Safa Banouk opened the scoring for the Rabat-based team.

However, a momentary lapse nearly cost them. Sandrine Niyonkuru, brought down in the box by Hajar Said, was awarded a penalty. But Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi rose to the occasion, brilliantly denying the Burundian striker’s attempt.

AS FAR came close to extending their lead with several dangerous chances, but FC Masar’s defense held firm. Doha El Madani and Sanaa Mssoudy showed promise in attack but lacked precision in front of goal.  

In the second half, the Moroccan side, led by the composed and experienced Nouhaila Benzina, managed the game well. Despite FC Masar’s persistent efforts, their attacks failed to break through AS FAR’s aggressive and compact defensive line. The Moroccan midfield dictated the tempo, thwarting Egyptian advances and creating counterattacking opportunities.

In stoppage time, Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyuwa, after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty to FC Masar. Maya Ehab converted to equalize, seemingly tilting the momentum.  

But AS FAR struck back instantly. Just seconds later, Doha El Madani delivered a decisive blow, converting a spectacular left-sided free kick to seal the victory.  

AS FAR will now face TP Mazembe in the final, led by Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi. The two teams met in the group stage, with AS FAR claiming a 3-1 victory.  

This marks AS FAR’s second final appearance, the first being in Morocco in 2022, the year they claimed their maiden title. A win in this final would see them equal the record for most titles (2) held by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Renaissance Sportive of Berkane (RSB) won their first title in Morocco’s national soccer championship (Botola Pro D1), following their 1-1 draw with Union Touarga on Saturday evening at the Berkane municipal stadium for the 25th matchday.

 TRSB, founded in 1938, opened the scoring through Oussama Lemlioui (66′), before Youness Dahmani equalized for Union Touarga (83′).

The Berkane club, who made history this season by securing top spot with a total of 60 points, have won 18 matches and drawn 6, with just one defeat against FUS Rabat (0-1) on Matchday 5.

Tunisian coach Mouain Chaabani’s men, winners of the CAF Cup in 2020 and 2022, three Throne Cups and a CAF Supercup, are ahead of AS FAR (2nd/45 pts) and Wydad Casablanca (3rd/43 pts).

They succeed previous champions Raja Casablanca.

In recent years, RSB has stood out as one of Morocco’s heavyweights, now holding its own against the league’s classic teams. With this victory, the Botola Pro title returns to the Eastern region, fifty years after Mouloudia Oujda’s triumph in the 1974-1975 season.

The club have qualified for the CAF Cup quarter-finals, where they will face ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire in April.

Moroccan club RS Berkane has welcomed a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirming its victory over Algeria’s USM Algiers in the semi-finals of the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup.

In a statement on Wednesday, the club said it had received the CAS decision, which rejected USM Algiers’ appeal to annul the results of both legs and impose sanctions on Berkane.

“The ruling upholds RS Berkane’s victory without any penalties, a decision that has been met with great satisfaction by our supporters,” the club said.

The CAS decision effectively ends the dispute, cementing Berkane’s place in the tournament’s final standings.

Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane (RSB) defeated South African club Stellenbosch 3-1 on Sunday in an away game at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, as part of African Champions League Group B’s 2nd matchday.

RSB advanced thanks to a brace from Youssef Zghoudi (5′, 15′) and a strike from Reda Hajji (83′), while the hosts saved face through Haytam Manaout’s own goal scored at 87′.

The Moroccan club had previously beaten Angola’s CD Lunda Sul 2-0 on the first day.

In the group’s other match, Stade Malien were held to a 1-1 draw by CD Lunda Sul.

At the end of the matchday, RSB leads the group with 6 points, ahead of Stade Malien (4 pts). Desportivo Lunda-Sul are third with one point, while Stellenbosch are last with no points.

On the next matchday, scheduled for Sunday, RS Berkane faces Stade Malien (8:00 p.m.).

Casablanca’s Wydad will kick off its 2025 Club World Cup with a game against England’s Manchester City on June 18 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, according to the program unveiled on Saturday by FIFA.

On June 22 at the same stadium, Wydad will face Juventus (Italy), before finishing the first round of Group G on June 26 at Audi Field in Washington D.C. against Soufiane Rahimi’s Emirati club Al Aïn, FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA opted for bringing forward the opening match to June 14, where Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will host Al Ahly of Egypt. The tournament final is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 13, 2025.

For the first time, the Club World Cup brings together 32 teams, including 12 European clubs, 6 from South America, 4 from Africa, 4 from Asia, 4 from North America and one from Oceania.

The 16 clubs finishing at the top two places in each of the eight groups will qualify for the knockout phase.

FIFA also confirms the initial phase of ticket sales for the 48 group stage matches will open on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m. GMT+1) exclusively on FIFA.com/tickets, where fans can already register their interest in purchasing tickets.

Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca will compete in Group G alongside Manchester City, Juventus, and Al Ain during the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, following Thursday’s draw held in Miami.  

This revamped tournament features 32 teams, including 12 from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Africa, Asia, and North America, and one representative from Oceania.

The 16 clubs finishing in the top two spots of each of the eight groups will progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.  

The draw ceremony took place in Miami, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several football legends.  

The tournament is set to be hosted in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, with the final scheduled to take place at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New York.

Here is the breakdown of all groups for the tournament:
Group A

    Palmeiras (Brazil)
    Porto (Portugal)
    Al Ahly (Egypt)
    Inter Miami (USA)

Group B

    Paris Saint-Germain (France)
    Atletico Madrid (Spain)
    Botafogo (Brazil)
    Seattle Sounders (USA)

Group C

    Bayern Munich (Germany)
    Auckland City (New Zealand)
    Boca Juniors (Argentina)
    Benfica (Portugal)

Group D

    Flamengo (Brazil)
    Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
    Chelsea (England)
    Club Leon (Mexico)

Group E

    River Plate (Argentina)
    Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
    Monterrey (Mexico)
    Inter Milan (Italy)

Group F

    Fluminense (Brazil)
    Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
    Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
    Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Group G

    Manchester City (England)
    Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
    Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
    Juventus (Italy)

Group H

    Real Madrid (Spain)
    Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
    Pachuca (Mexico)
    Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

Morocco’s AS FAR on Tuesday secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Egypt’s FC Masar to reach the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Touted as favorites, the defending Moroccan champions showed their determination to continue their journey. From the first whistle, they displayed sharp focus, leaving no room for chance.

Their intensity quickly paid off. In the 11th minute, Safa Banouk opened the scoring for the Rabat-based team.

However, a momentary lapse nearly cost them. Sandrine Niyonkuru, brought down in the box by Hajar Said, was awarded a penalty. But Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi rose to the occasion, brilliantly denying the Burundian striker’s attempt.

AS FAR came close to extending their lead with several dangerous chances, but FC Masar’s defense held firm. Doha El Madani and Sanaa Mssoudy showed promise in attack but lacked precision in front of goal.  

In the second half, the Moroccan side, led by the composed and experienced Nouhaila Benzina, managed the game well. Despite FC Masar’s persistent efforts, their attacks failed to break through AS FAR’s aggressive and compact defensive line. The Moroccan midfield dictated the tempo, thwarting Egyptian advances and creating counterattacking opportunities.

In stoppage time, Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyuwa, after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty to FC Masar. Maya Ehab converted to equalize, seemingly tilting the momentum.  

But AS FAR struck back instantly. Just seconds later, Doha El Madani delivered a decisive blow, converting a spectacular left-sided free kick to seal the victory.  

AS FAR will now face TP Mazembe in the final, led by Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi. The two teams met in the group stage, with AS FAR claiming a 3-1 victory.  

This marks AS FAR’s second final appearance, the first being in Morocco in 2022, the year they claimed their maiden title. A win in this final would see them equal the record for most titles (2) held by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.