Wydad Athletic Club will be without influential left-back Ayoub Boucheta when they face Manchester City in their opening Group G match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The 31-year-old defender has been ruled out due to a leg injury, dealing a major setback to the Moroccan side just days before taking on the reigning European champions.
Boucheta’s absence is a significant blow for WAC, who will already be facing a daunting challenge against a star-studded City side.
According to journalist Micky Jnr, Boucheta’s injury has forced him to withdraw from the squad for Wednesday’s fixture.
Known for his reliability and consistency, the diminutive full-back — standing at 1.71m — featured in 24 matches this season, starting 22 times and contributing two assists.
His commanding presence and defensive acumen on the left flank have been vital to Wydad’s structure throughout the campaign.
Losing him at such a critical juncture is a cause for concern, particularly with Manchester City’s attacking depth.
Zakaria Nassik is expected to step in as Boucheta’s replacement.
🚨 Ayoub Boucheta will miss Wydad’s opening match against Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup due to a leg injury.
Big blow for the Moroccan giants. 🇲🇦❌#ClubWorldCupwithMicky I #DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/OGphteJZjs
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) June 16, 2025
The 28-year-old has served as backup throughout the season and previously covered the position during key spells — from late September to late October, and again from mid-February to early March — amassing 13 appearances and registering one assist.
Nassik now faces the formidable task of containing City’s right-sided threats, including Matheus Nunes, Omar Marmoush, and Bernardo Silva — a trio known for their pace, creativity, and fluid movement.
Wydad’s fixture list does not get any easier following the Manchester City test.
They are set to meet Italian giants Juventus on 22 June before closing the group stage against Al Ain, the UAE club featuring Moroccan international Soufiane Rahimi, on 26 June.
While Boucheta’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, Wydad will hope he can return in time for those two crucial matches.
His experience and tactical discipline could prove vital as the Red Castle look to advance from a challenging group.
For now, the focus turns to Nassik and the rest of the Wydad defence, who must rise to the occasion without one of their key leaders on the pitch.
