From Morocco to Cairo: Berkane’s Super Cup nerves and the fresh battle-ready plan

Overview

Renaissance Berkane, the Moroccan champions and last season’s Confederation Cup winners, have stirred anxiety among their fans just before the international break. The nerves come at a critical moment, with less than two weeks to go before a major showdown in Egypt at the Air Defense Stadium, facing Pyramids FC, as they pursue the African Super Cup.

Several factors feed this unease: Berkane’s results in the last two league games, surrendering the top spot for the first time since last year to Wydad, and a noticeable dip in the form of some core players, alongside injuries to several important squad members.

Injury impact and squad moves

Coach Moein El-Shaabani reacted by intensifying training during the international break and by arranging a closed training camp in Egypt. The plan also involves keeping players there in the wake of the Super Cup to shield them from pressure back home, giving them time to prepare for a crucial CAF Champions League second-round tie against Al-Ahli Tripoli.

After a bright start with two straight away wins and what had been the league’s most potent attack, Berkane cooled off with a 3-3 home draw against Union Yaqub Al-Mansour, followed by a 2-2 draw with Union Tarouka, revealing defensive frailties after captain Youssoufa Daio’s departure. The club’s defensive issues have become a talking point as they head toward a first-ever CAF Champions League appearance, after previously thriving in the Confederation Cup.

This downturn saw Berkane surrender the lead to Wydad for the first time in two years, complicating their multi-competition bid and their chances to defend the league title. It also raises questions about the team’s depth and tactical balance in a season where every match could decide a trophy bid.

Super Cup as a litmus test

Injuries hit Berkane hard: the playmaker and last season’s top player, Yassin Al-Bahri, tore ligaments, required surgery, and will be out until early next year, God willing. Keeper Munir Mohamadi, sidelined by international duty with the Moroccan national team, has only recently returned and looked rusty, with his replacement Mehdi Miftah not fully filling the gap yet. Osama Al-Mlioui, Berkane’s sharpest scorer and a recent Chan standout with the national team, picked up an injury in the Tarouka match, with medical details still to be confirmed about the severity and recovery timeline.

The club also completed a modest transfer window, bringing in eight players, including overseas recruits who lack extensive top‑level exposure. Despite these additions, fears persist about Berkane’s readiness for the CAF Champions League and whether Moein El-Shaabani can translate past African successes with Esperance Tunis into a convincing project for Berkane in the bigger stage. The Super Cup will serve as a blunt mirror, testing the team’s real ambitions and the coach’s stated plan to repeat past European adventures domestically and continentally.

Sources inside the club indicate a boost in player bonuses beyond what was awarded for the Confederation Cup triumph, relying on the experience of Moroccan internationals who starred at Chan in Kenya and the new arrivals eager to prove their worth on the biggest stage this country’s club football has seen in years. Berkane will hope that this blend of experience and fresh talent can deliver a performance worthy of their title-winning pedigree, especially against a Pyramids side hungry for glory of their own.

Punchlines: If Berkane locks down the defense, the net will start collecting compliments faster than a club store runs out of jerseys. And if not, Moein’s plan will just be the most expensive training camp in Cairo—at least the memes will be well-nourished.