Wydad AC to begin pre-season friendly schedule against Ittihad Tanger

Wydad Athletic Club will step up preparations for the new season with their first pre-season friendly against Ittihad Tanger on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

The match is scheduled to take place at Wydad’s Wellness training centre in Bouskoura and will provide Portuguese head coach Paulo Sergio with his first opportunity to assess his squad in a competitive friendly setting.

Sergio recently took charge of the Casablanca giants and is now overseeing preparations for a new campaign in which Wydad are expected to compete on multiple fronts.

The club has been active in the transfer market during the summer, making several additions as part of efforts to assemble a squad capable of challenging for honours.

Among the notable arrivals are the returns of familiar faces Yahya Jabrane, Yahya Attiat-Allah and Ayman Hassouni, players who previously played important roles for the Moroccan giants.

Wydad have also reinforced the squad with Hamza Jenna Allah, Rachid Ghanimi and Salah Eddine El Koufi, while Jordanian international Nizar Al-Rashdan has also joined the team.

With a significantly reshaped squad, the friendly against Ittihad Tanger will be an important first test for Sergio and his technical staff.

The Portuguese coach is expected to use the encounter to assess the physical condition of his players, examine different tactical approaches and begin determining how the new arrivals can fit into his plans.

The match will also provide an early indication of how quickly the squad can develop the understanding and cohesion required ahead of the official campaign.

With several new players still adapting to their surroundings and Sergio introducing his ideas, Wydad’s pre-season schedule will be focused not only on results but also on building a clear tactical identity.

The club’s technical staff are expected to use the coming friendly matches to gradually improve the team’s organisation and fitness levels before the start of competitive action.

The meeting with Ittihad Tanger will therefore represent the first step in that process, giving Sergio an early opportunity to work with his new-look Wydad squad and identify the areas that require further improvement before the season begins.