Olympique Safi turn to Tunisian tactician Chokri Khatoui in relegation battle shake-up

Struggling Moroccan top-flight side Olympique Safi have appointed experienced Tunisian coach Chokri Khatoui as their new head trainer, following the departure of Zakaria Aboub.

Khatoui will lead the first team until the end of the current campaign, with an option to extend his contract depending on performance and results.

Khatoui arrives with a wealth of experience across North Africa and the Middle East. Over the course of his managerial career, he has taken charge of several clubs in Tunisia, Libya, and Saudi Arabia, and has also worked with the Tunisian Olympic national team. His appointment signals Safi’s intent to inject fresh tactical direction and renewed belief into a side desperate to climb out of danger.

The decision comes just days after the club officially parted ways with Moroccan coach Zakaria Aboub, as the board moved swiftly to steady the ship amid a difficult domestic campaign.

Nicknamed the “Safi Sharks,” Olympique Safi currently sit 16th in the Botola Pro standings with just five points from nine matches — recording one win, two draws, and six defeats. Complicating matters further, four of their league fixtures have been postponed, leaving the team with games in hand but mounting pressure in the relegation fight.

Despite their domestic struggles, the club has enjoyed a historic continental run. Olympique Safi reached the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in their history — a milestone achievement that highlights the squad’s potential.

Khatoui’s immediate task will be to translate that continental promise into consistent league performances, stabilize results, and steer the Safi Sharks away from the relegation zone as the season enters a critical phase.