Rulani Mokwena’s eagerly anticipated showdown with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup is now hanging by a thread, following recent developments at Wydad Athletic Club.
The South African coach, who has long spoken about his admiration for Guardiola and dreamt of facing the Spanish tactician on the global stage, was set to see that ambition realised on 18 June.
But those hopes could be dashed as uncertainty clouds his immediate future in Morocco.
This week, it was confirmed that Mokwena would only be in charge for the final five matches of the league season—a development that raises serious questions about whether he will still be at the helm when Wydad jets off to the United States for the global tournament.
His agent, Steven Kaploushnik, addressed the situation after meeting with club president Hicham Aït Menna, stating:
“I told the president clearly: 'If you don't want Rulani to stay, tell us and we'll leave. But if you want him, let him stay until the end of the season.' It was agreed that he will stay until the end, and then we will leave in a professional and respectful manner. The future is clear now. There are five matches left, and Rulani will continue until the end.”
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While that may sound definitive, there’s growing speculation that Mokwena’s tenure could end sooner, particularly after widespread reports that the coach has not received his salary for eight months—a claim that has been denied by Wydad.
Mokwena’s appointment was seen as a bold step by the Moroccan giants, with a clear mandate to finish second and qualify for next season’s CAF Champions League. That goal still remains mathematically possible, but the strained relationship behind the scenes could derail any continuity or long-term vision.
Should Mokwena exit Wydad before the Club World Cup, it would mark a painful blow—not only for him personally but also for South African football, which would have been represented on the touchline against one of the modern game's greatest tacticians.
With time ticking and Wydad's internal instability showing no signs of slowing, the question now is no longer when Mokwena will face Guardiola—but if he will.
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