Mohammed V Sports Complex is preparing for another temporary closure. This time, the work will not involve infrastructure renovations but rather maintenance of the pitch to prepare it for winter weather and ensure optimal playing conditions for upcoming fixtures.
The two Casablanca clubs, Wydad and Raja, will therefore have to play their home matches away from their usual venue while it is unavailable.
According to the schedule released by the National Professional Football League (LNFP), Wydad will host Moghreb Tetouan on Saturday, October 31 at 18:00 at Larbi Zaouli Stadium for matchday 6 of the Botola Pro.
Raja, meanwhile, are scheduled to host Hassania Agadir on Wednesday, October 28 at 18:00 for matchday 5, followed by Ittihad Tanger on Sunday, November 8 at 20:00. Both matches will be played at Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
Why is Mohammed V Stadium closing?
The temporary closure is necessary to maintain the pitch. The work involves overseeding, a process regularly carried out at major Moroccan sports venues to preserve grass density and improve its resilience during the winter season.
Mohammed V Sports Complex has a natural hybrid pitch combining two complementary grass varieties, Bermuda grass and ryegrass, also known as “regro.”
During the summer, Bermuda grass predominates. Particularly resistant to heat and heavy foot traffic, it helps maintain dense coverage despite a packed schedule of matches.
In winter, as temperatures drop, ryegrass takes over. Overseeding with this variety helps maintain a green, even and sufficiently resilient surface for high-level matches.
In spring, ryegrass gradually recedes, allowing Bermuda grass to regain its strength as temperatures rise.
The process requires a period of rest to allow the new seeds to germinate and the grass to grow under suitable conditions.
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Morocco-Niger set for November 13
Mohammed V Sports Complex is expected to reopen for the match between Morocco and Niger, scheduled for Friday, November 13 at 20:00 in the third matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has confirmed that the match will take place in Casablanca. The fixture makes it essential to have the pitch in perfect condition for the Atlas Lions.
The match will also mark the national team’s return to Mohammed V Sports Complex more than four years after its last appearance at the venue, on March 29, 2022, when Morocco beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 4-1 in the second leg of their 2022 World Cup qualifying playoff.
By then, the overseeding work must be complete and the pitch sufficiently recovered to welcome the Atlas Lions in the best possible conditions.
