RS Berkane coach Moine Chaabani laments late penalty in defeat to Athletic Club

Renaissance Berkane slipped to their second defeat of the season in the Botola Pro 1 over the weekend after a narrow 1-0 loss to Wydad Athletic Club at the Mohammed V Complex.

The contest, played as part of the 14th round, appeared destined for a stalemate until deep into stoppage time. Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech converted a dramatic penalty in the 90+8 minute to hand the hosts three crucial points in their pursuit of the league summit.

After the final whistle, Berkane head coach Moine Chaabani expressed disappointment with the outcome, insisting that his side deserved more from the encounter.

“Unfortunately, we got a negative result against Wydad Athletic Club, even though we played a great match at the Mohammed V Complex. Our players spared no effort to return with a positive result against a team that was supported by its large fan base and on its home ground,” he said.

The Tunisian tactician maintained that his team dictated large portions of the game and fashioned clear scoring chances, but ultimately paid the price for a decisive moment late on.

“We controlled the match, but a penalty kick in the dying moments cost us the loss.”

He added that such fine margins often determine the outcome of high-level fixtures.

Chaabani also highlighted the challenges posed by injuries within his squad in recent weeks, yet voiced pride in his players’ commitment and character against one of the league’s strongest contenders.

The victory propelled Wydad into second place on 26 points, strengthening their push at the top of the table. Berkane, meanwhile, remain on 19 points in seventh position, increasing the urgency for a response in the upcoming rounds as they look to regain momentum.