WAC Casablanca

The origin of the establishment of Wydad Athletic Club on resistance the colonialism that was imposed by the French authorities during the era of protectorate in Morocco, since before the independence of Morocco, the port of Casablanca was surrounded by a large number of swimming pools that were dedicated to clubs and sports associations only, and the Europeans were the ones who can supervise them. In beginning of the year 1935, many Moroccan Muslims and Jews joined several clubs to take advantage of the private swimming pools, but they were soon expelled by the colonizer because of their fear of an increase in their numbers later, and from here came the idea of establishing a Moroccan club by Moroccans only, so that the club can benefit of the swimming pools and participate in water polo competitions.

The idea of establishing Wydad Athletic Club was not as easy as it could be imagined, as all the members of the original core, including Hajj Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi and Hajj Dr. Abdellatif Benjelloun Touimi, suffered from the continued rejection and intransigence of the French authorities to the idea of establishing a “full Moroccan club”, which prompted them to resort to the Franco-Moroccan Association, in order to amend the matters related to registering the club's name, after which the General Resident in Morocco at the time, Maurice Nogues, personally intervened to allow the establishment of Wydad Athletic Club, but with specific conditions.

Wydad (وِداد) is an Arabic word that means "love", "sincere affection.", during the frequent meetings which led to the creation of the club, one of the founding members arrived late after watching the latest film of the legendary Egyptian singer and actress Umm Kulthum with the same name, though Latinized as Weddad, as it coincided with this answer that Zaghrouda set out from one of the neighboring houses to the meeting place, the attendees were optimistic about it, and Hajj Mohamed Ben Lahcen Affani expressed his support for choosing this name, but the intervention of some of the attendees led to a postponement for the final decision on the name of the club, except after the presence of a large number of managers and players, as the name was approved after holding a general gathering, the result was the suggestion and choice of the name "Wydad Athletic Club", as a name for the club without the inclusion of the word “Casablanca” because the club represents all Moroccans, not just the residents of the city of Casablanca.

Wydad played its first game against defending champion USM Casablanca as part of the first day of the championship in what is a criterion of war in September 1939. This meeting was the first of Wydad ended in defeat with a score of two goals to one. The first scorer was Abdelkader Lakhmiri. During this first season Wydad it was not a championship that was played but a true test of war called cutting war because of the Second World War. The first edition of this competition was played so in the context of the 1939–40 season and ended with a victory for the USM Casablanca facing the new team what Wydad. One who had played his first match against USM and had also faced rematch is still faced in the final after an incredible journey that has to qualify. The meeting was ended with a score of 1–0 at Stade Philippe to Casablanca. 1939–40: Champion of Chaouia League 1940: Winner of Moroccan Super Cup 1940: Runner-up of Moroccan Cup

The following season, Wydad was beaten by the Olympia Khouribga 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

Despite Morocco’s engagement in World War II (which included combat theatre within country) the local authorities (under the orders of the Vichy regime) continue to host and hold local championships. Wydad competed in these war-time competitions during the early years of the war during which time many Moroccan soldiers traveled to France to defend France from foreign aggression.

After playing two seasons under war-time conditions, the French authorities under the orders of the Vichy regime decided to expand the competition and divide teams into two divisions and impose a European-style relegation/promotion system. Wydad, a fledgling club comprised of uncelebrated locals, was initially relegated to the second division and not the first. Despite admirably competing against established clubs, placement in the second division was ratified by a federation dominated by clubs already competing in the first division. Despite these injustices, Wydad managed to be the first in their pool and eligible for promotion to the first division after a 1-nil victory between the dam at Ittihad Ribati. In an attempt to impede promotion, the federation decided to force the club to play another game. The federation selected the Athletic Union of Meknes. This encounter was played behind closed doors in Meknes and during the month of Ramadan. The opposing team for this competition was composed not of local Muslims, but of non-Muslim foreigners. The reasoning for scheduling such additional match with a non-Muslim club during Ramadan remains unconfirmed, but inherently suspicious. After successfully defeating opponents both on and off the pitch, the club's promotion to the top flight was confirmed by the federation. The defining moment during this time was a 12th minute goal by Ben Messaoud as the visiting club defeated the Meknes. 1941–42: Champion of Moroccan Championship D2 1941–42: Runner-up of Chaouia League.

The next season after winning the championship promotion honor is the 2nd level football league in Morocco, and after winning his matches dams, Wydad newly promoted division plays of honor is 'equivalent of first division football league in Morocco. During this season, Wydad had a good run, finishing in the top three of their group to play the final round, which begins from the second round. And after a very good run, Wydad reached the final of the competition and confronts the USM Casablanca club already encountered in regional play. Wydad fails to win its first title in this competition and was beaten by the score of 2–0. 1942–43: Champion of Chaouia League, Runner-up of Moroccan Championship.

During the season 1943–44, the red and white ends the year with a balance of the quarter-finals after several victories, the club face Fedala score on the river 2–0. Also noteworthy during this season package of USM Casablanca.

In 1944–45, the club managed the final qualification in the pool but was eliminated by the Association Sportive Marrakech Marrakech often called SAM despite a victory in the second round against the ASM score of 3–0.

The 1945–46 season is one of the best in the club since its inception as Wydad won the regional championship with a total of more than 62 points or 19 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. After winning the title, Wydad qualifies for the final round where he was defeated by the USM Casablanca final score of 3–1. Despite this defeat, the balance of the season is rather positive.

During the 1946–47 season, the club honors its first participation in the North African Cup but failed to move beyond the sixteenth-finals following a defeat by club Fedala the most minimal scores a 1–0. In the league, the WAC failed to win the title

It will take more than nine years for Wydad to finally win its first championship. In a group of eight clubs, Wydad played fourteen matches, won six, lost two and drawn six. Moroccan Iyad El Baz helped win Wydad's first ever trophy. During the same season Wydad participates in the North African Championship with the title won and even managed to win by beating the US Athletic score of 4–2.

Wydad also took part in the 1948–49 season of the North African Cup, which is a competition organized by the Union of North African Football that it is made up of five leagues is that of the Morocco, Tunisia, Algiers, Oran and Constantine. The competition began for Wydad in the knockout final against Red Star of Algiers. The match ended in a victory for Wydad AC score of 3–1. Then, in the quarter-finals, he must face the USM Bone or he managed to climb in the semi-finals with a victory on the score of 2–1. Continuing his journey, he must then face the Olympic Hussein Dey, club league Algiers. This meeting was a massacre ending with a victory on the score of 3–0 while the club qualified for the finals is a club and even Casablanca Moroccan who managed to beat the Sports Club Hammam Lif on the modest score of 1–0. this club is in fact the US Athletic. The final was held in Casablanca in 1949, is opposed both clubs are Wydad AC that and the US Athletic and after 90 minutes of play, Wydad won the competition for the first time in its history with a victory on the score of 2–1. During the same season they also managed to win a Championship North African football when editing played as mini-league since it was the team with the most points wins the championship, they also won another championship, so it is the first club which has tripled something which nobody has done throughout history.

During the following season Wydad fails to succeed on a hat-trick but doubled. It won the Moroccan championship for the third time in its history and a row with a total of more than 57 points, and won the championship of North African football by beating the USM Oran on the score 4–0 in Algiers on 28 May 1950.

During the 1950–51 season, Wydad continues its momentum by winning the national championship but was beaten in the final of the African Cup North face SC Bel Abbès on the score 1–0.

During the last season played before independence, Wydad won his fifth and last championship title before Moroccan independence. Participating teams in this championship was twelve in number counting Wydad. During the same season, the Reds were beaten in the final of the championship of North Africa to Casablanca in the face of ES Guelma score of 2–1.

Morocco becomes independent, and the WAC receives the honorary Resistance Card with the number 1 by his royal majesty Mohammed V. Before launching the first Moroccan championship for the 1956/57 season, the committee decides to organize a first competition called Independence Cup, and classify the teams in the divisions. This cup is won by Wydad AC which has become the number 1 club in Morocco. The 38th edition of the championship (the first after independence) is won by the WAC (title holder) with the Kawkab of Marrakech as its runner-up. The same season in the cup, Wydad qualified for the final against the Mouloudia Club of Oujda. The match ends with a score of 1–1, King Mohammed V, Crown Prince Hassan II and WAC founder Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi who are present in this final, decide to give the cup to Mouloudia Oujda. because he scored the first goal.

During the following season, the WAC finished vice-champion of Morocco with 69 points, one less than the champion, the Kawkab of Marrakech. The Wydad who was first loses all his points won against the USM Casablanca following the general forfeit of it and also loses in the final of the Morocco Cup against the same opponent of last season on the score of 2 goals to 1.

During the following season, Wydad is still vice-champion behind the Casablanca star while in the Throne Cup, the WAC is eliminated in the round of 16 against the FAR of Rabat, winners of this competition. WAC forward Mustapha Khalfi finished top scorer in Botola with 21 goals.

The following season, Wydad reached fourth place with only one point less than the top three. In the Cup, and after defeating Essaouira with a score of one goal to zero, the WAC was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Mouloudia d'Ouejda.

The first 1960/61 season ended badly with a 7th place in the league, in the cup the WAC was able to climb into the final by defeating the future champion of this season, the FAR of Rabat, on the score of two goals to one. But Wydad has always missed its finals since 1956 and faces last season's champion Kenitra Athletic Club. The Wydad was beaten with the score of a goal to zero on April 24, 1960, at the Stade d'honneur in Casablanca.

The following season, the WAC finished 6th in the Botola classification, and was beaten in the eighth finals of the Morocco Cup against Mouloudia d'Ouejda with the score of 2 goals to 0.

In the 1962/63 season, the WAC again finished 6th in Botola, and reached the semi-final of the Morocco Cup eliminated by KAC Marrakech.

The following season, WAC was again 6th in Botola, and was a finalist in the Morocco Cup against KAC Marrakech.

In the 1964/65 season, the WAC finished in the championship in 5th place, and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Cup.

It was not until the 1965/66 season to see the WAC champion of Morocco for the 7th time, with a total of 57 points. As the team was eliminated in the eighth finals of the Morocco Cup against MAS Fez, it took fifteen years to return to the Moroccan Super Cup against COD Meknès (winner of the Cup). The WAC participated for the first time in its history in the Mohammed V Cup where it finished 4th, after elimination against Real Madrid in the semi-final with the score of 2 goals to 0.

The 1966–67 season ended with a 4th place in the championship, and an elimination in the quarter-final of the Morocco Cup against the sports association of the royal armed forces.

The following season the WAC will finish 8th in Botola, and eliminated in the round of 16 of the Cup against the same opponent, the sports association of the royal armed forces.

During the 1968–69 season, the WAC returned to the Botola podium, winning its 8th title of Champion of Morocco with a total of 73 points, including 16 victories, 11 draws and 3 lost matches. But unfortunately, he was eliminated in the second round of the Cup.

We had to wait thirty-one years to see the WAC winner of the Morocco Cup, and it was against RS Settat that the reds won the title with the score of a goal to zero. Compared to the 1960s, the emperor of Moroccan football won three times the Botola and three times the Cup as well as the Mohammed V Cup thanks to legendary players such as Larbi Aherdane, Ezzaki Badou, Aziz Bouderbala, Petchou or Abdelmajid Shaita.

• In the 1969–70 season, Wydad finished 5th at Botola, winner of the Cup.
• 1970–71: 7th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup.
• 1971–72: vice-champion of Botola, 1/8 final of the Cup.
• 1972–73: 9th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup.
• 1973–74: 5th in Botola, 1/4 final of the cup.
• 1974–75: 9th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup, winner of the Green Market Cup.
• 1975–76: Moroccan champion, 9th coronation, 1/8 Cup final.
• 1976–77: Champion of Morocco, 10th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, 3rd of the Mohammed V Cup.
• 1977–78: Champion of Morocco, 11th coronation, winner of the 2nd coronation Cup.
• 1978–79: 3rd at Botola, Cup winner, 3rd coronation, Mohammed V Cup winner.

In the first season, the WAC finished runner-up in Morocco with only 1 point difference from the winner, and won the Cup for the second time in its history, and regained the Botola podium for the 12th time in 1986, and participates for the first time in the CAF Champions League, since it is the first Moroccan club to win the Arab Cup of Champions Clubs in 1989 and a 3rd Cup of Morocco in the same year.

• In the 1979–80: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/8 Cup final, winner of the Meknes International Tournament.
• 1980–81: 4th at Botola, Winner of the 4th coronation Cup, winner of the Mohamed Benjelloun Trophy.
• 1981–82: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/8 final of the Cup.
• 1982–83: 3rd at Botola, 1/8 Cup final, winner of the Independence Tournament.
• 1983–84: 5th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup.
• 1984–85: 4th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final.
• 1985–86: Moroccan champion 12th coronation, 2nd round of the Cup.
• 1986–87: 4th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup, 2nd round of the Champions League.
• 1987–88: 4th at Botola, semi-finalist of the Cup, winner of the Pescara International Cup.
• 1988–89: 5th at Botola, winner of the 5th coronation Cup, winner of the Arab Cup of Champions Clubs.

During this decade, the WAC won all possible competitions, with two consecutive victories in Botola, the CAF Champions League, the Arab Elite Cup, the 15th coronation of champion of Morocco, the Afro-Asian Super Cup, the 8th Cup of Morocco in its history.

• 1989–90: Moroccan champion, 13th coronation, 2nd round of the Cup.
• 1990–91: Moroccan champion, 14th coronation, 1/4 final of the Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League.
• 1991–92: 3rd at Botola, 1/8 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Champions League, winner of the Arab Elite Cup.
• 1992–93: finalist of the CAF Supercup, champion of Morocco, 15th coronation, 1/4 Cup final, winner of the Afro-Asian Cup.
• 1993–94: vice-champion of Morocco, winner of the Cup, 6th coronation, 2nd round of the Champions League.
• 1994–95: 7th coronation, 5th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final.
• 1995–96: 3rd at Botola, 1/4 Cup final, winner of the Dallas International Cup.
• 1996–97: vice-champion of Morocco, winner of the Cup, 7th coronation.
• 1997–98: 3rd at Botola, Cup winner, 8th coronation, semi-finalist of the African Cup Winners' Cup.
• 1998–99: winner of the Moroccan Supercup, 8th coronation, 5th at Botola, 1/16 Cup final, CAF Cup finalist.

During this decade, the Red Castle won fewer titles than ever before. It was a bad chapter in the history of the club.

• 1999–00: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/16 Cup final, 1/8 CAF Cup final.
• 2000–01: 7th at Botola, winner of the 9th coronation Cup, 1/4 final CAF Cup.
• 2001–02: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/16 final of the Cup, winner of the African Cup Winners' Cup after defeating Asante Kotoko S.C.
• 2002–03: Finalist of CAF Super Cup, 3rd at Botola, Cup finalist, semi-finalist of the African Cup Winners' Cup.
• 2003–04: 3rd at Botola, Cup finalist, intermediate round Confederation Cup.
• 2004–05: 3rd at Botola, 1/16 Cup final, 1/4 final of the Arab Cup.
• 2005–06: Moroccan champion 16th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, 1/4 final of the Arab Cup.
• 2006–07: 4th at Botola, semi-finalist of the Cup, 2nd round of the CAF Champions League.
• 2007–08: 7th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final, Arab Cup finalist after a 2–0 loss to ES Sétif.
• 2008–09: 4th at Botola, 1/4 Cup final, Arab Cup finalist after a 2–1 loss to Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
• 2009–10: Moroccan champion 17th coronation, 1/16 final of the Cup.

From the start of the second decade of the 20th century, the WAC returned to the Botola podium by winning its 17th title, then in 2015, 2017 and 2019, as well as the CAF Champions League in 2017, and the Super Cup of CAF.

• 2014–15: Moroccan champion 18th coronation, 1/8 Cup final.

• 2015–16: vice-champion of Morocco
• 2016–17: Moroccan champion 19th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Champions League.
• 2017–18: vice-champion of Morocco, semi-finalist of the Cup, 1/4 final of the CAF Champions League, 1/8 final of the Arab Cup, winner of the 2018 CAF Super Cup.

• 2018–19: Moroccan champion 20th coronation, 1/16 of the Cup, finalist of the CAF Champions League after a devastating VAR scandal that gifted Espérance Sportive de Tunis the win.
• 2019–20: vice-champion of Morocco, Semi-finalist of the Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League.
• On 14 July 2021, Wydad defeated Mouloudia Oujda 0–2 at the Honneur Stadium to clinch their 21st league title, with three games left in the season, finalist of the Moroccan Throne Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League.

One day after the club's 85th anniversary, Wydad defeated Atlético Petróleos de Luanda 4–2 on aggregate (3–1 away and 1–1 at home) to advance to their 5th Champions League final and the 3rd one in 6 years. On 30 May 2022, in a rematch of 2017 final, Wydad AC beat defending champions Al Ahly in the final to be crowned champions of Africa for the third time in its history, thanks to a brace from the Man of the Match, Zouhair El Moutaraji. During this campaign under Walid Regrgui role, the Red Castle has achieved many national records in the CAF Champions League: First Moroccan team to win an away semi-final match, most wins for a Moroccan team in a single season (9 wins), most goals scored in a single season (28 goals), and first Moroccan team to go undefeated for 9 straight games in a single season. With this win, Wydad will play in the first-ever all-Moroccan CAF Super Cup against 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup winners, RS Berkane. On 21 July 2022, Wydad was elected as the best Club of the year in the 2022 CAF Awards.

In the 2022–23 CAF Champions League, Wydad qualified to the knockout stages after finishing top in the group stages winning four matches, drawing one and losing one. They faced Simba and won on penalties. They won Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-final, qualifying them to their 6th champions league final.

In the inaugural season of the African Football League, WAC managed to qualify to the semi-final after defeating Enyimba 4–0 on aggregate (1–0 away and 3–0 at home). In the semi-finals, the moroccan emperor managed to qualify again after defeating Espérance Tunisia 2-1 on aggregate (1–0 home and (5–4 p) at away). In the final, WAC lost in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria against Mamelodi Sundowns 2-3 on aggregate (2-1 home and 0-2 at away).