Wydad AC held to goalless draw by Zemamra in third pre-season friendly

Wydad Athletic Club continued their preparations for the 2026–2027 season with a goalless draw against Renaissance Athletic Zemamra in their third pre-season friendly.

The encounter was played on Saturday at Wydad’s Wellness training centre in Casablanca, giving Portuguese head coach Paulo Sergio another opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the new campaign.

With significant changes made to the squad during the summer transfer window, the friendly allowed Sergio to test different combinations and evaluate the progress of both his established players and new arrivals.

One of the notable moments from the game was the debut of new signing Soufiane Hitli. The 25-year-old striker, who recently joined Wydad from Dutch club Telstar, made his first appearance for the Casablanca giants during the pre-season campaign.

However, details of the match were limited after Wydad’s technical staff imposed a media blackout, with no extensive information released regarding the line-ups, tactical approach or individual performances.

Several players were absent from the encounter, including some who had also missed the team’s second friendly. Others are yet to feature during Wydad’s pre-season preparations, meaning the final composition of the squad remains unclear as the start of the new season approaches.

Wydad began their pre-season programme with a meeting against Ittihad Tanger before facing Difaa El Jadida. The clash with Zemamra represented their third friendly as Sergio continues to build cohesion within a squad that has undergone considerable changes.

The Portuguese coach is particularly focused on finding the right balance between experienced players and the club’s new signings as he prepares his team for the competitive campaign ahead.

Wydad have been active in the transfer market, bringing in several players as part of their squad-building efforts. Among the notable arrivals are Yahya Jabrane, Yahya Attiat-Allah, Ayman Hassouni, Hamza Jenna Allah, Rachid Ghanimi, Salah Eddine Koufi and Jordanian international Nizar Rashdan.

The club will continue its pre-season work in the coming days, with Sergio expected to use the remaining preparation period to make important decisions regarding his preferred system, starting XI and final squad.

Wydad supporters will now be eagerly awaiting further friendly matches as they look to get a clearer picture of the team that will represent the club when the 2026–2027 season officially begins.