Maghreb Fes, coached by Spaniard Pablo Martin, clinched the Moroccan league title for the first time since 1985, finishing the season with 59 points from 30 matches. The Yellow Tigers from the central city secured the championship by beating lowly Olympique Dcheira 2-0 in the final round.
Match Details and Season Performance
Midfielder Anas Tahiri broke the deadlock for Fes in the 51st minute, and center-back Ayman Chabani added a second goal in the 72nd minute. The team won 16 matches, drew 13, lost three, scored 40 goals, and conceded 17 throughout the season.
This triumph marks a return to the CAF Champions League for Fes for the first time since 2012, when they were eliminated in the final qualifying round. The club last won the league in 1985, making this a historic achievement.
Pablo Martin's Journey
The 46-year-old Spaniard previously coached South African outfit AmaZulu, where he was sacked in 2024. He then managed Al Faisaly in Saudi Arabia before joining Fes last year. Martin described the title win as a triumphant return to African football.
Other Contenders and African Competition
Renaissance Berkane, record three-time CAF Confederation Cup winners, finished runners-up after a 3-1 win over Difaa El Jadidi. Their second-place finish secures a spot in the CAF Champions League, where they reached the semifinals last season before losing to fellow Moroccans FAR Rabat.
FAR Rabat were held 0-0 at home by Renaissance Zemamra to finish fourth behind Raja Casablanca, who qualify for the Confederation Cup. To compete in the 2026-27 African season, FAR must win the Throne Cup, the Moroccan equivalent of the English FA Cup. Three-time African champions Wydad Casablanca finished fifth after a string of late-season defeats.
Champions League Draw and Dominance
The Champions League draw is set for early August, with nine former winners among the clubs chasing a $6 million (5.25 million euros) first prize. North African clubs have dominated the competition, winning nine consecutive editions before South African side Mamelodi Sundowns edged FAR 2-1 over two legs last season. Former champions from the north include Zamalek and Pyramids of Egypt, Club Africain and Esperance of Tunisia, and Mouloudia Alger of Algeria.
Record 12-time winners Al Ahly of Egypt will be notable absentees, having finished third in the domestic league and settling for a Confederation Cup slot. Other former champions in the field include Sundowns and Orlando Pirates of South Africa, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast.
A Nigerian club last won the competition in 2004 when Enyimba completed back-to-back triumphs. Enugu Rangers and Rivers United carry the hopes of the most populous African country this time. Cameroon, once a powerhouse, has not produced a champion since Canon Yaounde in 1980. Colombe edged Dynamo Douala on goal difference to secure a Champions League place.
