Concerns are growing over the condition of the playing surface at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium as the venue prepares to host a series of high-profile fixtures, including the much-anticipated derby between Wydad and Raja on Wednesday, 29 October.
The pitch, which has already shown signs of wear in recent weeks, is set to endure a demanding schedule.
On Tuesday evening, less than 24 hours before the derby, the Moroccan women’s national team will take on Haiti in a friendly match at 7:30 p.m.
The following day, the city’s fierce rivals will meet on the same surface in one of the most intense fixtures of the Botola season.
But the strain won’t end there. Just three days later, on Friday at 8 p.m., Wydad Casablanca will return to the Mohammed V pitch to host Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round tie.
Then, on Saturday, Raja Casablanca are scheduled to face Olympique Dcheira in their league encounter, also at the same venue.
In total, four matches will be played on the same pitch within a span of six days — a workload that experts warn could significantly affect the quality of the playing surface and potentially pose injury risks to players.
According to stadium management, Sonarges — the national company in charge of stadium maintenance — has been working continuously to preserve the pitch condition ahead of this busy stretch.
Partial maintenance has already been carried out on specific sections of the field, but a full overhaul is scheduled once this round of fixtures concludes.
Officials have confirmed that the Mohammed V Stadium will temporarily close for extensive maintenance after this sequence of matches.
The renovation will involve replacing the current Bermuda grass, which thrives in warmer climates, with Ray Grass, a variety more resistant to cooler autumn and winter temperatures.
This change is part of a broader effort to prepare the stadium for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be held in Morocco.
Once the work is completed, the venue will be handed over to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for inspection and certification, ensuring it meets the required standards for continental competition.
For now, however, attention remains fixed on the immediate challenge — ensuring that Casablanca’s iconic stadium can withstand the relentless schedule ahead of one of the country’s most hotly anticipated matches.
