South African attacking duo Devin Titus and Tshegofatso Mabasa ended on the losing side as Maghreb Fes suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wydad Sportive Témara in the Botola Pro on Sunday evening.

The reigning Moroccan champions went into the clash with some confidence after recently booking their place in the CAF Champions League group stages. They had overcome Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas 2-1 on aggregate. However, they could not turn that momentum into a positive result on the domestic front.

Témara took the lead early through Zakaria Oulbenna, who struck in the 13th minute. That proved to be the only goal of the match. Maghreb Fes pushed for an equaliser in the second half but failed to break through. Titus stayed on the field for 76 minutes while Mabasa was replaced at half-time. Neither player managed to create a meaningful chance or influence the game in attack.

The result extended Maghreb Fes’s winless run to three matches. They now sit in seventh place on the log with eight points from six games, five points behind leaders KACM. The defeat also lifted Témara into fourth position.

Both South Africans arrived at Maghreb Fes in August after strong spells in the Betway Premiership. Titus joined from Stellenbosch FC, where he had become the club’s most-capped outfield player and contributed regularly with goals and assists. Mabasa, a former Orlando Pirates striker and 2023/24 Golden Boot winner, signed as a free agent. The pair had shown flashes of quality earlier in the season, including contributions in continental matches, but they drew a blank on this occasion.

Maghreb Fes will look to bounce back when they host Fath Union Sport at home on Saturday, 7 November. A win would help them climb the table and restore some momentum as they continue their title defence. For Titus and Mabasa, the next few weeks will be important as they try to find their best form in a new league and push for regular places in the starting line-up.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2116952719693132048