Wydad Casablanca Leave Out Eight Players Ahead of Club World Cup Campaign

Wydad Casablanca have trimmed their squad ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with head coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem opting to exclude eight players for “technical reasons” as the team departed for the United States on Tuesday.

Notable Absentees

Left out of the final traveling squad are:

• Walid Nassi
• Hamza Sakhi
• Mohammed El Jadidi
• Monir El Habach
• Ayman Dairani
• Saifeddine Bouhra
• Zakaria Nassik
• Yassine Bennani

While the official reason given is technical, the decision reflects Benhachem’s desire to build a streamlined and competitive team as Wydad face world-class opposition in Group G.

Provisional 26-Man Squad

• Goalkeepers: Benabid, Omar Aqzdaou, Youssef El Motie
• Defenders: Harkas, Fahd Moufi, Ayoub Boucheta, Bart Meijers, Boutouil, Mohamed Moufid
• Midfielders: Ismail Moutaraji, Zakaria Fatihi, Thembinkosi Lorch, Oussama Zemraoui, El Mehdi El Moubarik, Stephane Aziz Ki, Pedrinho, Benktib, Arthur Wenderroscky
• Forwards: Abdallah Selemani Mwalimu, Cassius Mailula, Nordin Amrabat, Mohamed Rayhi, Samuel Obeng, Mickaël Malsa, Hamza Hannouri

New signings are also expected to join soon, with the club working urgently to finalize deals before the close of the special Club World Cup transfer window.

Group G Challenge

Wydad face a formidable path in Group G with fixtures against:

• Manchester City (Europe)
• Al Ain (Asia)
• Juventus (Europe)

Their first match kicks off on June 18, and expectations are high for the Botola Pro heavyweights to make their mark on the global stage.

What to Expect

Despite a demanding group, Wydad will look to draw on their continental pedigree and tactical discipline to challenge some of the best clubs in the world.

The squad mix — featuring seasoned names like Azziz Ki, Amrabat, and Opoku — reflects a balance of experience and dynamism as they aim to make Africa proud in the U.S.