With Morocco set to host the upcoming AFCON, Soccer Laduma looks at the responsibilities that are carried by Rulani Mokwena at Wydad Casablanca.
Mokwena was largely responsible for the bulk of the Mamelodi Sundowns squad that formed the core of the Bafana Bafana team at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
Given that Bafana had at least nine players from Sundowns in the line-up in most the games and ended up earning a bronze place finish, the 38-year-old would have felt he had a huge influence in Hugo Broos' charges having a historic campaign.
Now at Wydad, the Soweto native coach would not have much of the weight in terms of national team players, with the core of the Atlas Lions squad based abroad.
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However, Mokwena has already played a role in getting Wydad centre-back Jamal Harkass into Walid Regragui's squad late last year.
Harkass made his debut in October last year for Morocco and played from start to finish in four AFCON qualifiers.
The former Orlando Pirates head coach will also be working on getting Abdelmounaim Boutouil back into the national team fold, as the former Sundowns defender has overcome his injury issues and is part of a Red Castle squad chasing a CAF Champions League qualification.
'AB' debuted for Morocco in the 2021 African Nations Championship (CHAN), where he was one of the main players as the Atlas Lions went on to win the continental tournament reserved for players based locally.
However, Boutouil was troubled by injuries after that at SCC Mohammedia and that also affected his loan spell at Raja Casablanca before he was signed by the Brazilians.
The 27-year-old arrived at Masandawana injured and was hardly a regular at the Tshwane giants and only saw much game-time under Mokwena. Boutouil has not featured for Morocco since his CHAN showing.
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The decorated coach will also have a chance to revive Thembinkosi Lorch's Bafana career, ahead of the finals in Morocco.
Lorch was on top of his game for Pirates and South Africa at the 2019 Afcon and went on to earn nine caps.
However, the Sundowns loanee at Wydad has not featured for his nation since the June 2022 in the AFCON qualifiers.
Cassius Mailula is another South African under Mokwena at The Red Castle looking to get back into the Bafana fold.
Mailula has not featured for Hugo Broos' charges since he was transferred to United States side, Toronto.
With only two caps, the 23-year-old was last seen in the Bafana colours on the bench in June 2023 when South Africa stunned Morocco 2-1 in an AFCON qualifier.
