Mailula has joined the North African giants Wydad Casablanca on loan from Major League Soccer outfit Toronto FC Cassius Mailula, seen here in action for Mamelodi Sundowns, has rediscovered his best form during his loan spell at Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Image: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Cassius Mailula has found himself at the centre of a tug of war between his club Toronto FC and Moroccan giants, Rulani Mokwena's Wydad Casablanca, where he is on loan.
After moving to Major League Soccer side Toronto FC in the United States at the end of the 2022/23 season, the 23-year-old has struggled for form and game time in a team featuring Italian great Lorenzo Insigne.
In 2024, he secured a loan move to Wydad Casablanca, who are under the tutelage of his former Sundowns mentor Mokwena. In Morocco, Mailula has rediscovered his best form, and has contributed five assists and one goal in 14 league games.
Now with Insigne set to leave Toronto, and with the departure of John Herdman, the coach who gave the South African a few playing opportunities, the MLS club reportedly want Mailula back in Canada ahead of the new season.
Impressed with how things have gone since signing the Bafana Bafana striker, Wydad Casablanca are having none of it and want him to stay for the duration of his loan agreement, which would allow him to play at the Club World Cup in the US in June and July.
Casablanca, who have struggled in Morocco's Botola Pro this season, will be up against Premier League champions Manchester City, Italian giants Juventus and Emirati club Al Ain at the Club World Cup.
With the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year, Mailula will be hoping his performances for Wydad will be enough to convince Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos to include him in his plans for the competition and add to his two caps for the national team.
IOL Sport