Rabat – Raja Club Athletic opened their 2026-27 Botola Pro campaign with a 1-0 victory over Renaissance Zemamra on Saturday at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Othmane Chraibi scored the decisive goal in the 27th minute, giving the Green Eagles an early advantage in their first domestic league match of the new season.
Raja continued to search for opportunities to extend their lead, while Renaissance Zemamra pushed for an equalizer, but neither side managed to find the net again before the final whistle.
The victory gives Raja their first three points of the campaign and places them sixth in the early standings, while Zemamra remain without a point after two matches.
Raja finally begin league campaign
Saturday’s fixture was technically part of Matchday 2, but it represented Raja’s first appearance of the season after their opening-round match against AS FAR was postponed.
The National Professional Football League announced the postponement before the start of the campaign, with reports attributing it to international commitments involving several AS FAR players. A new date for the fixture has yet to be confirmed.
Raja coach Paco Jemez had named a 20-player squad for the Zemamra meeting, including several new signings. Jordan international Mohamed Abu Zraiq, known as Sharara, was unavailable because of international duty.
Chraibi’s goal also opened his scoring account in the new Botola Pro season. The 23-year-old midfielder joined Raja in July 2025 and remains under contract with the Casablanca club until June 2027.
Renaissance Zemamra, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive defeat after beginning the season with a 2-1 loss away to defending champions Maghreb de Fes.
The win gives Raja an encouraging start as they look to challenge near the top of the Botola Pro this season, with their postponed meeting against AS FAR still to be rescheduled.
