Rabat — Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club’s (WAC) head coach Amine Benhachem and three delegation members were involved in a road accident in the US, where the Moroccan club is participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The accident happened near Washington, with initial reports saying no serious injuries were sustained in the incident.
The four victims included Benhachem, team doctor Abderrazak Hifti, general director Youssef Debbagh, and a member of the technical staff. The club quickly issued a statement to reassure fans about the situation and the condition of those involved.
Three of the accident victims were discharged from Suburban Hospital in Maryland and immediately rejoined the rest of the team delegation, while coach Benhachem was kept under medical observation as a precautionary measure.
All four have now returned to the team’s headquarters, allowing Benhachem to resume preparations with his players and staff for the upcoming crucial match against UAE’s Al Ain FC.
Wydad president Hicham Ait Menna is reportedly on-site to support the coach during this difficult period.
The incident comes at a challenging time for Wydad, which has struggled significantly in their Club World Cup campaign. The Reds have suffered two consecutive defeats, losing 2-0 to Manchester City and 4-1 to Juventus, leaving them at the bottom of their group with zero points.
Wydad is scheduled to face Al Ain FC on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Moroccan time in what will be their final group stage match. Both the Moroccan and Emirati clubs are tied with zero points, while their Group C opponents, Manchester City and Juventus, have each secured six points.
The match against Al Ain, featuring Moroccan international Soufiane Rahimi, represents Wydad’s last chance to avoid elimination from the tournament without a single victory, making it a do-or-die situation for both clubs.
Despite the setback caused by the accident, Wydad officials expressed confidence that the team would be fully prepared for the crucial fixture, with all staff members now recovered and back with the squad in the US.
