Better than Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly and Orlando Pirates? Rhulani Mokwena convinced 'best club in Africa' Wydad AC 'will be stronger next season'

Wydad Athletic Club coach Rhulani Mokwena believes that his team will be stronger than ever next season following their goalless draw against RS Berkane on Friday night at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.

Mokwena has been entrusted to revive the Casablanca giants after their disappointing sixth-place finish in the 2023/24 season, which resulted in missing out on this season’s Caf Champions League edition.

After reclaiming their second position in the Botola League standings, Mokwena emphasized that there is still much work to be done at Wydad while asserting that his team is the best in Africa.

"You know when you start a project, I always tell the players that history doesn’t have blank pages, history knows what was happening in the past. I was asked to come to this club, and I must tell you I think it’s the best club in Africa, and it’s a great privilege to be here," Mokwena told reporters.

"But if you see where Wydad finished last season, it was position six and we lost all our players, so I can tell you about these players because as a Sundowns coach, we played against this Wydad team.

"And I know the expectations and the level of Wydad is to win every game, win Botola Pro, win the Throne Cup and [CAF] Champions League. I know the expectations of this big club, but when you have a patient in ICU, when the patient resuscitates and walks out of the hospital, he doesn’t go to work the next day," explained the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach. 

"There’s a process for rehabilitation and you have to go step by step. Where we are, I think the board knows because we share the feelings, and the players know because to start a team with 26 new players, a new technical team, a new board and to be second ahead of our rivals who won Botola last season is big. There’s so many teams that have had the same team for three to four years. Berkane had the same coach last year, and they have the same players," he added. 

"And if you put it into context, last season, after 30 games, Wydad made 44 points, and this season, we already have 41 points. That means we are close to having a better season, the number of wins, number of goals and already we scored more goals than last season, so my expectation is that this team will be stronger next season."

Wydad currently sit in second place in the Botola Pro League standings, trailing behind the league leaders Berkane by 15 points with seven matches remaining in the 2024/25 season.

The Red Castle are unbeaten in the last seven league encounters, achieving five victories and two draws as they pursue a Caf Champions League spot.

Wydad's aim now is to accumulate positive points to secure a top-two finish and obtain their entry ticket to the Caf Champions League for the next season.