2017–18 Botola

The 2017–18 Botola, also known as Botola Maroc Telecom for sponsorship reasons, is the 61st season of the Premier League and the 7th under its new format of Moroccan Pro League, the top Moroccan professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1956. The season started on 8 September 2017 and ended on 21 May 2018.

Botola
Season2017–18
ChampionsIttihad Tanger
1st title
RelegatedRacing AC CA Khénifra
Champions LeagueIR Tanger
Wydad AC
Confederation CupHUS Agadir
Matches played240
Goals scored545 (2.27 per match)
Top goalscorerMouhssine Iajour
(17 goals)
Biggest home winOC Khouribga 5–0 Racing AC
(13 May 2018)
Biggest away winOC Khouribga 0–5 Wydad AC
(28 November 2017)
Highest scoringRaja CA 4–3 OC Khouribga
(14 February 2018)
MA Tétouan 4–3 CA Khénifra
(18 February 2018)
Wydad AC 5–2 OC Khouribga
(8 April 2018)
AS FAR 3–4 OC Safi
(14 April 2018)
KAC Marrakech 2–5 DH Jadidi
(28 April 2018)
Longest winning run8 matches
IR Tanger
Longest unbeaten run23 matches
Wydad AC
Longest winless run11 matches
Racing AC
Longest losing run6 matches
MA Tétouan

Wydad Athletic Club came into the season as defending champions of the 2016–17 season. Rapide Oued Zem and Racing de Casablanca entered as the two promoted teams from the 2016–17 GNF 2.

On May 12th 2018, Ittihad Tanger won the Botola Pro after a 2-1 victory against Moghreb Tétouan. The IR Tanger club won the championship for the first time after being runner-up to the title in 1989-90 season.[1]

Teams

Personnel and kits
Teams Managers Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Association sportive des FAR Abderrazak Khairi Uhlsport
Chabab Atlas Khénifra Kamal Zouaghi Bang Sports
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Nacer Sandjak Bang Sports Al Omrane, CGI
Difaâ El Jadidi Abderrahim Talib Bang Sports innjoo, Radio Mars, TGCC1
FUS Rabat Walid Regragui Uhlsport Emaar, Novec1, LafargeHolcim23
Hassania Agadir Miguel Ángel Gamondi Uhlsport Afriquia, Skoda1, Souss-Massa2, Joly3
IR Tanger Driss El Mrabet Bang Sports Renault, APM Terminals, Tanger-Med1, Moroccan Airports Authority1, Valencia1, RCI Finance Maroc3
Kawkab Marrakesh Faouzi Jamal Puma Poste Maroc, Sanad, CitySport, Menara Mall1
Moghreb Tétouan Abdelouahed Benhsain King Sports Maroc Halib Tetaouen, Radio Mars
OC Khouribga Bernard Simondi Bang Sports
Olympic Safi Mohamed Amine Benhachem Uhlsport Fitco
Racing de Casablanca Youssef Rossi
Raja Casablanca Juan Carlos Garrido Legea Siera, Nor'Dar, Prodec, Infinix, Hyundai1, Or Blanc1, MarsaMaroc23, Atlanta Assurances23
Rapide Oued Zem Tarek Mostafa Bang Sports Boudrika Holding
RSB Berkane Mounir Jaouani Bang Sports Souiri, Afriquia1
Wydad Casablanca Faouzi Benzarti Macron Ingelec, Alitkane2, Koutoubia2
1. ^ On the back of shirt.
2. ^ On the sleeves.
3. ^ On the shorts.
  • Maroc Telecom is a sponsor for all the league's teams.
  • Additionally, referee kits are made by Adidas.

Managerial changes
Teams Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment
Racing de Casablanca Abdelhak Rizkallah Retired 20 May 2017 Youssef Rossi 14 Juin 2017
IR Tanger Bachir Bouita End of contract 25 May 2017 Ezzaki Badou 20 May 2017
Hassania Agadir Francisco Javier Bernal End of contract 26 May 2017 Miguel Ángel Gamondi 4 June 2017
Raja Casablanca Mohamed Fakhir Resigned 26 May 2017 Abdelhak Benchikha 7 June 2017
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Youssef Fertout End of contract 26 May 2017 Juan Pedro Benali 11 July 2017
Moghreb Tétouan Amin Erbati (interim) End of tenure as caretaker 28 May 2017 Fouad Sahabi 3 June 2017
Raja Casablanca Abdelhak Benchikha Resigned 16 June 2017 Juan Carlos Garrido 20 June 2017
Moghreb Tétouan Fouad Sahabi Resigned 30 August 2017 Abdelhak Benchikha 5 September 2017
OC Khouribga Azzedine Aït Djoudi 3 October 2017 Sacked Bernard Simondi 14 October 2017
Moghreb Tétouan Abdelhak Benchikha Resigned 19 November 2017 Youssef Fertout 19 November 2017
IR Tanger Ezzaki Badou Sacked 21 November 2017 Driss El Mrabet 21 November 2017
RSB Berkane Rachid Taoussi Sacked 27 November 2017 Mounir Aljawani 27 November 2017
Chabab Atlas Khénifra Samir Yaich Contract termination 3 December 2017 Kamal Zouaghi 26 December 2017
AS FAR Aziz El Amri Sacked 11 December 2017 Abderrazak Khairi 13 December 2017
Wydad Casablanca Hussein Amotta Sacked 9 January 2018 Faouzi Benzarti 19 January 2018
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Juan Pedro Benali Contract termination 31 January 2018 Nacer Sandjak 1 February 2018
Rapide Oued Zem Mohamed Backary Sacked 20 February 2018 Fouad Sahabi 21 February 2018
Moghreb Tétouan Youssef Fertout Sacked 27 February 2018 Abdelouahed Benhsain 21 February 2018
Rapide Oued Zem Fouad Sahabi Refused by the Federation 20 February 2018 Tarek Mostafa 20 March 2018
Kawkab Marrakesh Youssef Meriana Sacked 29 April 2018 Faouzi Jamal 29 April 2018

League table

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 IR Tanger (C, Q) 30 14 10 6 34 23 +11 52 Qualification for the CAF Champions League
2 Wydad Casablanca (Q) 30 14 9 7 44 26 +18 51[lower-alpha 1]
3 Hassania Agadir (Q) 30 13 12 5 40 22 +18 51[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup
4 FUS Rabat 30 13 10 7 34 26 +8 49 Qualification for the Arab Club Champions Cup[lower-alpha 2]
5 Difaâ El Jadidi 30 13 9 8 49 33 +16 48[lower-alpha 3]
6 Raja Casablanca 30 13 9 8 45 33 +12 48[lower-alpha 3] Qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup[lower-alpha 4]
7 Olympic Safi 30 10 13 7 32 28 +4 43[lower-alpha 5]
8 AS FAR 30 11 10 9 35 34 +1 43[lower-alpha 5]
9 RSB Berkane 30 11 8 11 36 34 +2 41 Qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup[lower-alpha 6]
10 Rapide Oued Zem 30 10 7 13 27 31 −4 37
11 Moghreb Tétouan 30 10 6 14 24 35 −11 36
12 Olympique Khouribga 30 9 8 13 37 47 −10 35
13 Chabab Rif Al Hoceima 30 7 12 11 27 31 −4 33
14 Kawkab Marrakesh 30 8 8 14 29 47 −18 32
15 Chabab Atlas Khénifra (R) 30 6 11 13 30 41 −11 29 Relegation to the Botola 2
16 Racing de Casablanca (R) 30 3 8 19 22 54 −32 17
Source: frmf.ma
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Fair-play points; 7) Play-off.
(C) Champion; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Wydad Casablanca finished ahead of Hassania Agadir on goals scored: Wydad Casablanca 44, hassania Agadir 40
  2. Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca are also qualified to the Arab Club Champions Cup.
  3. Difaa Jadidi finished ahead of Raja Casablanca on head-to-head goal difference: Difaa Jadidi 2–1 Raja Casablanca, Raja Casablanca 3–2 Difaa Jadidi
  4. Raja CA qualified for the Confederation Cup First round as the title holders, by winning the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.
  5. Olympic Safi finished ahead of AS FAR on head-to-head points: Olympic Safi 1–1 AS FAR, AS FAR 3–4 Olympic Safi
  6. RS Berkane qualified for the Confederation Cup First round by winning the 2018 Moroccan Throne Cup.

Results
Home \ Away IRT WAC HUSA FUS DHJ RCA OCS FAR RSB RCOZ MAT OCK CRA KACM CAK RAC
IR Tanger — 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–1
Wydad AC 0–1 — 1–0 1–3 2–1 1–2 0–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 0–0 5–2 1–0 4–1 3–1 0–0
HUS Agadir 1–1 1–0 — 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–1
Fath US 0–0 2–4 2–1 — 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–2 2–1 4–1 2–0
DH Jadidi 1–1 0–1 1–0 3–0 — 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 3–1 3–0 4–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 1–1
Raja CA 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 3–2 — 0–0 2–0 2–1 3–1 0–0 4–3 1–1 4–0 1–2 2–0
OC Safi 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–0 — 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–2
AS FAR 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 3–4 — 1–3 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–3 1–2 2–0
RS Berkane 0–3 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–3 — 0–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–1 4–0
RC Oued Zem 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 3–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 2–1
MA Tétouan 0–1 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–3 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 — 2–1 0–2 1–0 4–3 1–1
OC Khouribga 1–1 0–5 2–1 2–1 3–3 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 — 1–1 3–0 1–0 5–0
CR Al Hoceima 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–1 — 1–0 2–0 1–2
KAC Marrakesh 2–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–5 0–3 1–1 0–1 0–2 3–2 0–0 2–1 1–0 — 1–1 0–0
CA Khénifra 0–1 0–0 1–5 1–1 3–3 2–3 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 — 2–0
Racing AC 1–2 0–1 0–3 2–2 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 May 2018. Source: Botola Pro
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Season statistics

Top goalscorers
As of 20 May 2018.[2][3]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Mouhssine Iajour Raja CA 17
2 Mehdi Naghmi IR Tanger 13
3 Ayoub Kaabi RS Berkane 12
4 Simon Msuva DH Jadidi 11
5 Zouhair El Moutaraji OC Khouribga 10
Jalal Daoudi HUS Agadir
7 Ibrahim Bezghoudi AS FAR 9
Mohamed Nahiri Wydad AC
Bilal El Megri DH Jadidi
Hamid Ahaddad DH Jadidi

Top Assists
As of 14 April 2018[4]
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Zakaria Hadraf Raja CA 8
2 Abdelilah Hafidi Raja CA 7
3 Omar Nemsaoui RS Berkane 5
Amin Tighazoui Wydad AC
Adnane El Ouardy DH El Jadidi
Abdelmoula Berrabeh RC Oued Zem
7 Lamine Diakite Fath US 4
Mohammed Ali Bamaamar DH El Jadidi
Abderrahim Achchakir Raja CA
Amine Dghoughi Racing AC
Jalal Daoudi HUS Agadir
Ahmed Hamoudan IR Tanger
Bilal El Megri DH Jadidi

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRound
Hamid Ahaddad DH Jadidi OC Khouribga 4–1 (H) 3 December 2017 10
Mouhssine Iajour Raja CA OC Khouribga 4–3 (H) 14 February 2018 16
Hamza Goudali OC Safi AS FAR 4–3 (A) 14 April 2018 25

(H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Annual awards

The UMFP (Union Marocaine des Footballeurs Professionnels), in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, organized the Night of Stars Award, which celebrated the brilliants of the Botola Pro for the 2017/18 season.[5]

Award Winner Club
Best Manager of the Season Driss El Mrabet IR Tanger
Best Player of the Season Ahmed Hammoudan IR Tanger
Best Promising Player of the Season Mahmoud Benhalib Raja CA
Best Goalkeeper of the Season Abderrahman El Hoausli HUS Agadir

See also

2017 Coupe du Trône
2017–18 Botola 2
2018 CAF Champions League
2018 CAF Confederation Cup

References
  1. "La FRMF félicite l'IRT champion de Botola Maroc Télécom D1 (2017-2018)".
  2. "Championnat National Botola Maroc Telecom 2017/2018 Top Scorers". fifa.com
  3. "البطولة الإحترافية إتصالات المغرب 2018/2017 قائمة الهدافين". kooora.com
  4. "Statistiques Botola Saison:2017/18 - Le classement des passeurs décisifs". mountakhab.net. Mountakhab. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  5. "Soirée Gala La Nuit Des Stars De Football 2017/18" [Evening Gala The Night Of Football stars 2017/18]. Association Marocaine des Footballeurs. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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