Wydad AC loses 3-1 to Wydad Temara in season opener
- Widad Casablanca opened their Moroccan Professional Championship season with a 3–1 home defeat against newly promoted Wydad Temara at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca.
- Wydad Temara seized control early in the opening half, maintaining a heavy share of possession through short, intricate passing sequences.
- The opening loss arrived despite an aggressive summer transfer window by Widad Casablanca management.
Widad Casablanca opened their Moroccan Professional Championship season with a 3–1 home defeat against newly promoted Wydad Temara at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca. The side suffered their eighth league loss, extending a negative run that includes their final seven matches of the previous campaign.
Match Timeline and Goals
Wydad Temara seized control early in the opening half, maintaining a heavy share of possession through short, intricate passing sequences. The visitors opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Yahya Attiat Allah conceded a penalty after handling the ball inside the area. Akram Al-Khwaidisi converted the spot-kick past goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid to net the match’s opening goal and the first-ever top-flight goal in Wydad Temara’s history. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 59th minute, maintaining tactical discipline and frustrating the hosts’ buildup play. Widad Casablanca narrowed the deficit in the 80th minute through a penalty kick. However, Wydad Temara sealed the victory in stoppage time with a third goal, capping off an aggressive performance that began with an early header from Oussama Essafi in the fourth minute.
Squad Overhaul and Managerial Context
The opening loss arrived despite an aggressive summer transfer window by Widad Casablanca management. The club brought in several high-profile players to reshape the roster, including Ayman El Hassouni, Yahya Attiat Allah, Issoufou Dayo, and Silver Ganvola. Portuguese manager Paulo Sergio took charge of the squad at the start of the season. Despite the fresh additions and new technical staff, the team struggled to break down Wydad Temara’s defensive block, leaving the squad searching for stability after consecutive defeats stretching back into last season.
