Wydad Casablanca kept their hopes of competing in continental football next season alive when they defeated JS Soualem 2-0 on Thursday.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Cassius Mailula netted the opening goal after going past three defenders in the 29th minute to give his side a crucial lead. Defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil’s goal in the 78th minute was enough to sink the home side.
The Moroccan giants are now third on the log with 51 points, and are in good standing to qualify for the CAF Confederations Cup next season.
They will be hoping that AF FAR, who are sitting second with 54 points, slip up on the last matchday, allowing them to take their Champions League position.
The win coincided with the club’s commemoration of its 88th anniversary, which was founded on 8 May 1937.
Mailula, Boutouil and Thembinkosi Lorch, who were all signed during the reign of South African coach Rulani Mokwena, have been instrumental in Wydad’s effort to ‘awaken the sleeping giant’.
Mokwena recently parted ways with the club following a series of unpleasant results, but the three continued with their brilliance under interim coach Amine Benhachem.
Lorch’s impressive showings since joining in January have seen him win the club’s Player of the Month award for March. He is likely to remain in Morocco next season, should they manage to broker a deal with his parent club, Sundowns.