The 2018–19 Botola, also known as Botola Maroc Telecom for sponsorship reasons, is the 62nd season of the Premier League and the 8th 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 25 August 2018 and ended on 15 May 2019.

Botola Maroc Telecom
Season2018–19
ChampionsWydad AC
20th title
RelegatedKAC Marrakesh
CR Al Hoceima
Champions LeagueWydad AC
Raja CA
Confederation CupHUS Agadir
RS Berkane
Matches played240
Goals scored550 (2.29 per match)
Top goalscorerMouhcine Iajour,
Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba
(19 goals)
Biggest home winRaja CA 6–0 CR Al Hoceima
(25 August 2018)
Biggest away winRS Berkane 3–7 Raja CA
(13 March 2019)
Highest scoringRS Berkane 3–7 Raja CA
(13 March 2019)
Longest winning run7 matches
Wydad AC
Longest unbeaten run10 matches
Wydad AC
Raja CA
Longest winless run11 matches
KAC Marrakesh
MA Tétouan
CR Al Hoceima
AS FAR
Longest losing run4 matches
CR Al Hoceima
KAC Marrakesh

IR Tanger came into the season as defending champions of the 2017–18 season. Mouloudia Oujda and Youssoufia Berrechid entered as the two promoted teams from the 2017–18 Botola 2.

Teams

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Stadium and locations

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Locations of the 2018–19 Botola teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
AS FAR Rabat Stade Moulay Abdellah 53,000
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Al Hoceima Stade Mimoun Al Arsi 12,000
Difaâ El Jadidi El Jadida Stade El Abdi 15,000
Fath Union Sport Rabat Stade de FUS 15,000
Hassania Agadir Agadir Stade Adrar 45,000
IR Tanger Tanger Grand Stade de Tanger 45,000
Kawkab Marrakech Marrakech Stade de Marrakech 45,000
Moghreb Tétouan Tétouan Saniat Rmel 15,000
RSB Berkane Berkane Stade Municipal 30,000
Mouloudia Oujda Oujda Honneur Stadium 35,000
Olympic Safi Safi Stade El Massira 10,000
Olympique Khouribga Khouribga Complexe OCP 10,000
Raja Casablanca Casablanca Stade Mohamed V 67,000
Rapide Oued Zem Oued Zem Stade Municipal 3,000
Wydad Athletic Club Casablanca Stade Mohamed V 67,000
Youssoufia Berrechid Berrechid Stade Municipal 5,000

Personnel and kits

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Teams Managers Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Association sportive des FAR   Carlos Alós Ferrer Joma
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima   Saïd Chiba Bang Sports Al Omrane, CGI
Difaâ El Jadidi   Ezzaki Badou 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   Abdelouahed Belqassem Gloria sport Moroccan Airports Authority, Renault, APM Terminals, Tanger-Med, Valencia1, STG telecom[1]2, RCI Finance Maroc3
Kawkab Marrakesh   Azedine Benis Puma Poste Maroc, Sanad, CitySport, Menara Mall1
Moghreb Tétouan   Tarik Sektioui Legea Halib Tetaouen, Al Omrane1, Radio Mars
Mouloudia Oujda   Abdelaziz Kerkache Bang Sports
OC Khouribga   Rachid Taoussi Bang Sports OCP
Olympic Safi   Hicham Dmii Uhlsport Fitco
Raja Casablanca   Patrice Carteron Legea Siera, Nor'Dar, Prodec, Infinix, Hyundai1, Or Blanc1, MarsaMaroc23, Atlanta Assurances23
Rapide Oued Zem   Hassan Benabicha Bang Sports Morih
RSB Berkane   Mounir Jaouani Bang Sports Souiri, Afriquia1
Wydad Casablanca   Faouzi Benzarti Macron Ingelec, Alitkane2, Koutoubia2
Youssoufia Berrechid   Said Seddiki Bang Sports Dalaa
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

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Teams Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment
AS FAR   Abderrazak Khairi End of contract 20 May 2018   Mohamed Fakhir 21 May 2018
Olympic Safi   Mohamed Amine Benhachem End of contract 30 May 2018   Hicham Dmii 9 June 2018
OC Khouribga   Bernard Simondi End of contract 30 June 2018   Mohamed Amine Benhachem 3 July 2018
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima   Nacer Sandjak End of contract 30 June 2018   Mimoun Ouaali 25 July 2018
Wydad Casablanca   Faouzi Benzarti Contract termination 28 July 2018   Abdelhadi Sektioui 3 August 2018
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima   Mimoun Ouaali Sacked 7 September 2018   Juan Pedro Benali 13 September 2018
IR Tanger   Driss El Mrabet Contract termination 25 September 2018   Ahmad Al-Ajlani 25 September 2018
Wydad Casablanca   Abdelhadi Sektioui Contract termination 25 September 2018   René Girard 29 September 2018
Difaâ El Jadidi   Abderrahim Talib Resigned 26 October 2018   Hubert Velud 30 October 2018
Wydad Casablanca   René Girard Resigned 23 November 2018   Faouzi Benzarti 27 November 2018
AS FAR   Mohamed Fakhir Contract termination 7 December 2018   Mouhcine Bouhlal (interim) 11 December 2018
IR Tanger   Ahmad Al-Ajlani Contract termination 25 December 2018   Abdelouahed Belqassem 25 December 2018
Kawkab Marrakesh   Faouzi Jamal Contract termination 26 December 2018   Aziz El Amri 26 December 2018
AS FAR   Mouhcine Bouhlal (interim) End of tenure as caretaker 21 January 2019   Carlos Alós Ferrer 21 January 2019
Raja Casablanca   Juan Carlos Garrido Contract termination 28 January 2019   Patrice Carteron 30 January 2019
OC Khouribga   Mohamed Amine Benhachem Sacked 28 January 2019   Rachid Taoussi 29 January 2019
Moghreb Tétouan   Abdelouahed Benhsain Sacked 9 February 2019   Tarik Sektioui 11 February 2019
Difaâ El Jadidi   Hubert Velud Sacked 10 February 2019   Ezzaki Badou 11 February 2019
Kawkab Marrakesh   Aziz El Amri Sacked 18 February 2019   Azedine Benis (interim) 18 February 2019
Rapide Oued Zem   Tarek Mostafa Contract termination 25 February 2019   Hassan Benabicha 1 March 2019
Kawkab Marrakesh   Azedine Benis (interim) End of tenure as caretaker 12 March 2019   Jawad Milani 12 March 2019
Kawkab Marrakesh   Jawad Milani End of tenure as caretaker 12 March 2019   Azedine Benis 12 March 2019
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima   Juan Pedro Benali Contract termination 5 April 2019   Saïd Chiba 7 April 2019

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Wydad Casablanca (C) 30 17 8 5 56 30 +26 59 Qualification for Champions League
2 Raja Casablanca 30 15 10 5 56 36 +20 55
3 Hassania Agadir 30 12 9 9 30 22 +8 45[a] Qualification for Confederation Cup
4 Olympic Safi 30 12 9 9 37 38 −1 45[a] Participation in Arab Club Champions Cup[b]
5 IR Tanger 30 9 13 8 27 30 −3 40
6 Youssoufia Berrechid 30 10 9 11 36 37 −1 39[c]
7 RSB Berkane 30 8 15 7 34 34 0 39[c] Qualification for Confederation Cup[d]
8 Difaâ El Jadidi 30 9 12 9 30 32 −2 39[c]
9 FUS Rabat 30 8 14 8 25 25 0 38
10 Rapide Oued Zem 30 7 16 7 28 31 −3 37
11 Olympique Khouribga 30 8 12 10 38 42 −4 36
12 Mouloudia Oujda 30 8 11 11 31 38 −7 35
13 Moghreb Tétouan 30 8 10 12 29 32 −3 34
14 AS FAR 30 7 12 11 32 32 0 33
15 Kawkab Marrakesh (R) 30 7 9 14 34 40 −6 30 Relegation to Botola 2
16 Chabab Rif Al Hoceima (R) 30 6 9 15 27 51 −24 27
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) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head: Hassania Agadir: 3 points, +2 GD; Olympic Safi: 3 points, −2 GD.
  2. ^ Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca are also participated in the Arab Club Champions Cup.
  3. ^ a b c Head-to-head: Youssoufia Berrechid: 7 points, RS Berkane 5 points, Difaâ El Jadidi 3 points.
  4. ^ RS Berkane are Moroccan Throne Cup winners.

Results

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Home \ Away WAC RCA HUSA OCS IRT CAYB RSB DHJ FUS RCOZ OCK MCO MAT FAR KACM CRA
Wydad AC 2–2 2–1 1–0 2–2 3–2 0–0 3–0 3–0 3–0 4–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 3–1 6–1
Raja CA 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–2 2–3 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 6–0
HUS Agadir 2–1 0–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 3–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 5–1 1–0
OC Safi 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–3 3–0 3–2 3–3 1–0 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1
IR Tanger 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–0 3–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1
CAY Berrechid 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–2
RS Berkane 3–2 3–7 0–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–0
DH Jadidi 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–0
Fath US 0–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–0
RC Oued Zem 0–0 3–3 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0
OC Khouribga 0–1 1–1 0–0 4–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–1
MC Oujda 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–2 3–2 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–0
MA Tétouan 1–1 3–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–2 4–1 0–0 1–4 2–1
AS FAR 1–1 2–1 0–1 2–3 0–0 3–4 1–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–0
KAC Marrakesh 3–3 1–2 0–2 1–2 3–1 4–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–1
CR Al Hoceima 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–3 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–4 1–4 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2019. Source: Goalzz
Legend: 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

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Top goalscorers

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As of 11 June 2019.[2][3]
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Mouhcine Iajour Raja CA 19
  Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba RS Berkane
3   Koffi Boua OC Safi 14
4   Simon Msuva DH Jadidi 13
5   Khalid Hachadi OC Khouribga 12
6   Reda Hajhouj OC Khouribga 11
7   N'Tji Amadou Samake KAC Marrakesh 10
8   Mehdi Naghmi IR Tanger 9
9   Zakaria Hadraf Raja CA 8
  Abdoulaye Diarra RC Oued Zem
  Michael Babatunde Wydad AC

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date Round
  Mouhssine Iajour Raja CA DH Jadidi 4–2 (A) 30 January 2019 15
  Koffi Boua OC Safi DH Jadidi 3–2 (H) 9 March 2019 21
  Zakaria Hadraf Raja CA RS Berkane 7–3 (A) 13 March 2019 21
  Reda Hajhouj OC Khouribga OC Safi 4–4 (H) 27 April 2019 26

(H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Annual awards

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The UMFP (Union Marocaine des Footballeurs Professionnels), in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, organized the Night of Stars Award in its 5th edition, which celebrated the brilliants of the Botola Pro for the 2018/19 season.[4]

Award Winner Club
Manager of the Season   Faouzi Benzarti Wydad AC
Player of the Season   Mohamed Aziz RS Berkane
Foreign Player of the Season   Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba RS Berkane
Promising Player of the Season   Soufiane Karkache MC Oujda
Goalkeeper of the Season   Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti Wydad AC

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "اتــحــاد طــنــجــة يقدم مستشهره الجديد STG TELECOM" [Ittihad Tangiers presents its new sponsor STG TELECOM]. irtfoot.ma. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  2. ^ "Championnat National Botola Maroc Telecom 2018/2019 Top Scorers". Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. fifa.com
  3. ^ "Botola Maroc Telecom 2017/2018:Scorers". goalzz.com
  4. ^ "Laylat Noujoum, ce qu'il faut en retenir" [Laylat Noujoum, what to remember]. sport.le360.ma. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
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