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
ChampionsIR Tanger
1st title
RelegatedRacing AC, CA Khénifra
Champions LeagueIR Tanger
Wydad AC
Confederation CupHUS Agadir
Raja CA
RS Berkane
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 12, 2018, IR 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

Stadium and locations
Locations of the 2017–18 Botola teams
Team Acronym Location Stadium Capacity
Association sportive des FAR AS FAR Rabat Stade Moulay Abdellah 52,000
Chabab Atlas Khénifra CAK Khénifra Stade Municipal 5,000
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima CRA Al Hoceima Stade Mimoun Al Arsi 12,000
Difaâ El Jadidi DHJ El Jadida Stade El Abdi 15,000
Fath Union Sport FUS Rabat Stade de FUS 15,000
Hassania Agadir HUSA Agadir Stade Adrar 45,480
IR Tanger IRT Tanger Grand Stade de Tanger 45,000
Kawkab Marrakech KACM Marrakech Stade de Marrakech 45,240
Moghreb Tétouan MAT Tétouan Saniat Rmel 15,000
Olympic Safi OCS Safi Stade El Massira 10,000
Olympique Khouribga OCK Khouribga Complexe OCP 10,000
Racing de Casablanca RAC Casablanca Stade Père-Jégo 10,000
Raja Casablanca RCA Casablanca Stade Mohamed V 67,000
Rapide Oued Zem RCOZ Oued Zem Stade Municipal 3,000
RSB Berkane RSB Berkane Stade Municipal 15,000
Wydad Casablanca WAC Casablanca Stade Mohamed V 67,000

Number of teams by regions
Regions of Morocco Number of teams Teams
1 Casablanca-Settat4DH El Jadidi, Racing AC, Raja CA and Wydad AC
2 Béni Mellal-Khénifra3CA Khénifra, OC Khouribga and RC Oued Zem
Tanger-Tetouan-Al HoceimaCR Al Hoceima, IR Tanger and MA Tétouan
4 Marrakech-Safi2KAC Marrakech and OC Safi
Rabat-Salé-KénitraAS FAR and Fath US
6 Oriental1RS Berkane
Souss-MassaHUS Agadir

Personnel and kits
Teams Managers Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Association sportive des FAR Morocco Abderrazak Khairi Uhlsport
Chabab Atlas Khénifra Tunisia Kamal Zouaghi Bang Sports
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Algeria Nacer Sandjak Bang Sports Al Omrane, CGI
Difaâ El Jadidi Morocco Abderrahim Talib Bang Sports innjoo, Radio Mars, TGCC1
FUS Rabat Morocco Walid Regragui Uhlsport Emaar, Novec1, LafargeHolcim23
Hassania Agadir Argentina Miguel Ángel Gamondi Uhlsport Afriquia, Skoda1, Souss-Massa2, Joly3
IR Tanger Morocco Driss El Mrabet Bang Sports Renault,[2] APM Terminals, Tanger-Med1, Moroccan Airports Authority1, Valencia1, RCI Finance Maroc3
Kawkab Marrakesh Morocco Faouzi Jamal Puma Poste Maroc, Sanad, CitySport, Menara Mall1
Moghreb Tétouan Morocco Abdelouahed Benhsain King Sports Maroc Halib Tetaouen, Radio Mars
OC Khouribga France Bernard Simondi Bang Sports
Olympic Safi Morocco Mohamed Amine Benhachem Uhlsport Fitco
Racing de Casablanca Morocco Youssef Rossi
Raja Casablanca Spain Juan Carlos Garrido Legea Siera, Nor'Dar, Prodec, Infinix, Hyundai1, Or Blanc1, MarsaMaroc23, Atlanta Assurances23
Rapide Oued Zem Egypt Tarek Mostafa Bang Sports Boudrika Holding
RSB Berkane Morocco Mounir Jaouani Bang Sports Souiri, Afriquia1
Wydad Casablanca Tunisia 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 Morocco Abdelhak Rizkallah Retired 20 May 2017 Morocco Youssef Rossi 14 Juin 2017
IR Tanger Morocco Bachir Bouita End of contract 25 May 2017 Morocco Ezzaki Badou 20 May 2017
Hassania Agadir Spain Francisco Javier Bernal End of contract 26 May 2017 Argentina Miguel Ángel Gamondi 4 June 2017
Raja Casablanca Morocco Mohamed Fakhir Resigned 26 May 2017 Algeria Abdelhak Benchikha 7 June 2017
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Morocco Youssef Fertout End of contract 26 May 2017 Spain Juan Pedro Benali 11 July 2017
Moghreb Tétouan Morocco Amin Erbati (interim) End of tenure as caretaker 28 May 2017 Morocco Fouad Sahabi 3 June 2017
Raja Casablanca Algeria Abdelhak Benchikha Resigned 16 June 2017 Spain Juan Carlos Garrido 20 June 2017
Moghreb Tétouan Morocco Fouad Sahabi Resigned 30 August 2017 Algeria Abdelhak Benchikha 5 September 2017
OC Khouribga Algeria Azzedine Aït Djoudi Sacked 3 October 2017 France Bernard Simondi 14 October 2017
Moghreb Tétouan Algeria Abdelhak Benchikha Resigned 19 November 2017 Morocco Youssef Fertout 19 November 2017
IR Tanger Morocco Ezzaki Badou Sacked 21 November 2017 Morocco Driss El Mrabet 21 November 2017
RSB Berkane Morocco Rachid Taoussi Sacked 27 November 2017 Morocco Mounir Aljawani 27 November 2017
Chabab Atlas Khénifra Morocco Samir Yaich Contract termination 3 December 2017 Tunisia Kamal Zouaghi 26 December 2017
AS FAR Morocco Aziz El Amri Sacked 11 December 2017 Morocco Abderrazak Khairi 13 December 2017
Wydad Casablanca Morocco Hussein Amotta Sacked 9 January 2018 Tunisia Faouzi Benzarti 19 January 2018
Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Spain Juan Pedro Benali Contract termination 31 January 2018 Algeria Nacer Sandjak 1 February 2018
Rapide Oued Zem Morocco Mohamed Backary Sacked 20 February 2018 Morocco Fouad Sahabi 21 February 2018
Moghreb Tétouan Morocco Youssef Fertout Sacked 27 February 2018 Morocco Abdelouahed Benhsain 21 February 2018
Rapide Oued Zem Morocco Fouad Sahabi Refused by the Federation 20 February 2018 Egypt Tarek Mostafa 20 March 2018
Kawkab Marrakesh Morocco Youssef Meriana Sacked 29 April 2018 Morocco 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) 30 14 10 6 34 23 +11 52 Qualification for the CAF Champions League
2 Wydad Casablanca 30 14 9 7 44 26 +18 51[lower-alpha 1]
3 Hassania Agadir 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
5 Difaâ El Jadidi 30 13 9 8 49 33 +16 48[lower-alpha 2]
6 Raja Casablanca 30 13 9 8 45 33 +12 48[lower-alpha 2] Qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup[lower-alpha 3]
7 Olympic Safi 30 10 13 7 32 28 +4 43[lower-alpha 4]
8 AS FAR 30 11 10 9 35 34 +1 43[lower-alpha 4]
9 RSB Berkane 30 11 8 11 36 34 +2 41 Qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup[lower-alpha 5]
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) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Wydad Casablanca finished ahead of Hassania Agadir on goals scored: Wydad Casablanca 44, hassania Agadir 40
  2. 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
  3. Raja CA qualified for the Confederation Cup First round as the title holders, by winning the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.
  4. Olympic Safi finished ahead of AS FAR on head-to-head points: Olympic Safi 1–1 AS FAR, AS FAR 3–4 Olympic Safi
  5. 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
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

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

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

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRound
Morocco Hamid Ahaddad DH Jadidi OC Khouribga 4–1 (H) 3 December 2017 10
Morocco Mouhssine Iajour Raja CA OC Khouribga 4–3 (H) 14 February 2018 16
Morocco 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 in its 4th edition, which celebrated the brilliants of the Botola Pro for the 2017/18 season.[5][6]

Award Winner Club
Manager of the Season Morocco Driss El Mrabet IR Tanger
Player of the Season Morocco Ahmed Hammoudan IR Tanger
Promising Player of the Season Morocco Mahmoud Benhalib Raja CA
Goalkeeper of the Season Morocco Abderrahman El Houasli HUS Agadir
Referee of the Season Morocco Redouane Achik
Club of the Season IR Tanger

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. "اتحاد طنجة يوقع عقد احتضان مع شركة رونو نيسان" [Ittihad Tanger signs a sponsorship contract with Renault-Nissan]. irtfoot.ma. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  3. "Championnat National Botola Maroc Telecom 2017/2018 Top Scorers". Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. fifa.com
  4. "Botola Maroc Telecom 2017/2018:Scorers". goalzz.com
  5. "Soirée Gala La Nuit Des Stars De Football 2017/18" [Evening Gala The Night Of Football stars 2017/18]. Union marocaine des footballeurs professionnels. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. "L'IRT, Ahmad Hamoudane et Driss M'rabet, grands gagnants de la Nuits des stars" [The IRT, Ahmad Hamoudane and Driss M’rabet, big winners of the Nuits des stars]. lematin.ma. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
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