Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui has high hopes for Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) at the FIFA Club World Cup 2023, believing that the Moroccan club can make it to the tournament’s final.
“I think the tricky game is the one against Al Hilal. If they can get past that one, I think they can go all the way to the final and face Real Madrid. Everything is possible,” the Atlas Lions head coach said in an interview with FIFA.
Naming Wydad’s key players, Regragui mentioned the left-back Yahya Attiyat Allah, the goalkeeper Reda Tagnaouti and the captain Yahya Jabrane.
The former Wydad coach also praised attacking midfielder Ayman El Hassouni, noting that he is “very talented and perhaps deserves to have done better in his career because he’s so gifted.”
The head coach stressed this year’s tournament will be “fantastic” for Morocco. It will allow people worldwide ro discover “an extraordinary fan culture” and “beautiful stadiums,” he said.
Of Hassouni, the Atlas Lions head coach added: “Maybe he’ll be the big discovery of this Club World Cup.”
Wydad will represent host Morocco in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Casablanca-based club will face off against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the tournament’s second round at 3:30 pm GMT+1 at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on February 4.
Wydad ranks 4th in transfer market’s CAF’s list of 100 most valuable teams in the world. The Moroccan team’s value in the transfer market is currently estimated at € 20.25 million.
The fast approaching tournament will take place between February 1-11, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat and at Tangier’s Ibn Batouta Stadium.
The participating teams include Spain’s Real Madrid, Brazil’s Flamengo, the US’ Seattle Sounders, Egypt’s Al Ahly, New Zealand’s Auckland City, and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
