It was a dramatic evening in Casablanca when Raja's Abdellilah Hafidi scored a late winner to power the Green Eagles to the Moroccan Premier League ‘Botola’ for the 2019/20 season, on the final day of the season on Sunday (11 October 2020).
It was a two-horse race between Raja and eternal city rivals, Wydad, and Hafidi’s strike at the death turned the tide in favour of the Green side of the Moroccan economic capital, Casablanca.
The league feat serves a huge boost for Raja, who face Egyptian giants Zamalek the semi-final first leg of the Total CAF Champions League at the weekend in Casablanca. Wydad will also host eight-time winners, Al Ahly, also of Egypt.
Wydad had just shot into a 2-1 lead in Rabat over FUS Rabat, which tilted the title they way as the score was one-all between Raja and AS FAR at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca.
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However, Hafidi' s late goal changed everything giving Raja the vital win they need to clinch the title, their 12th overall and first since 2013.
It was a man-of-the-match performance by the veteran Hafidi who scored both goals for Raja, finishing off assists from captain Mohsine Moutaouali.
Jamal Sellami’s charges wrapped up the title on 60 points (17 wins, 9 draws, 4 losses), one more than Wydad’s 59 (17 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses).
The Green Eagles’ previous titles were in 1988, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
New kids on the block, RS Berkane, finished third on 57 points with FUS Rabat a distant fourth on 49 points.
Lying bottom of the 16 club league standings, Raja de Béni Mellal were relegated to the second-tier after amassing 12 points from as many matches just as Olympic Khouribga, who finished their season in 15th place with 28 points.
On the other hand, traditional clubs Chabab Mohammedia (SCCM) and Maghreb de Fes (MAS) have earned promotion to the top flight after a fierce competition in the second-tier Moroccan league.
Source: cafonline.com