Rachid Ghaflaoui: Moroccan coach handed tough rebuild job at struggling African club

Rachid Ghaflaoui has been appointed head coach of the Jaune et Bleu, with the Moroccan tactician tasked with restoring the clubs competitiveness after a punishing 2025-26 campaign.

The club confirmed the change during its most recent general assembly, formally marking the end of the previous regime and sealing Ghaflaouis arrival as the new main coach.

A seasoned specialist in African football, Ghaflaoui is expected to land shortly in the capital of Haut-Katanga province, where he will meet his new squad before they depart for an overseas pre-season training camp. The club, also known as the Lumpas, has opted to hold its traditional pre-season stage abroad to build cohesion and reset after a difficult season.

Veteran of African football takes charge

Ghaflaoui is widely regarded as a coach who understands the intensity, conditions and tactical nuances of African competitions. His experience across the continent has been cited by club insiders as a key reason for his appointment.

Once in Haut-Katanga, his first task will be to hold discussions with his players and technical staff to assess the current state of the squad. That initial contact will come before the entire team flies out for pre-season, where Ghaflaoui is expected to lay down the principles that will shape his tenure.

The pre-season camp will be used to sharpen fitness, refine tactical structures and, crucially, rebuild confidence after what has been described internally as an exhausting 2025-26 season.

Rebuild after exhausting 2025-26 season

The new coach inherits a group that has been heavily affected, physically and mentally, by the previous campaign. The 2025-26 season is understood to have left the team drained and short of its usual standards, prompting the leadership to seek a fresh start.

Ghaflaoui now carries the responsibility of restoring the clubs former lustre and ensuring it can once again compete at the highest level. The priority will be to close the gap on domestic and continental rivals by imposing a clearer structure, a stronger mentality and tighter discipline within the squad.

The clubs hierarchy believes that only a decisive change in direction both in training and in match management will enable the team to challenge the established order in African football.

Iron discipline demanded to revive support

Expectations around Ghaflaouis arrival are high. To erase recent disappointments and rekindle enthusiasm among supporters, the Moroccan coach is expected to introduce what has been described as an iron discipline across all areas of preparation and performance.

He will be asked to shape a robust and united group, capable not only of competing but of unsettling the existing hierarchy on the continent. That means building a team with the physical resilience to cope with a demanding schedule, the tactical intelligence to adapt to different opponents and the mental strength to handle pressure in high-stakes fixtures.

Club officials hope that a strong pre-season abroad, combined with Ghaflaouis familiarity with African competitions, will provide the foundation for a new cycle of success. The coming months are likely to determine whether the Jaune et Bleu can move on from the struggles of 2025-26 and re-establish themselves as a force in continental football.