Less than 24 hours after the departure of former coach Rui Almeida, MAS Fès have handed their bench to Amine El Karma for two seasons. The coach, who was leaving Moghreb Tétouan, faces a first test on Saturday against FUS.
MAS Fès did not hang about. According to dongqiudi.com and All Football, the club have confirmed Amine El Karma as their new head coach on a two-season contract, less than 24 hours after Rui Almeida’s departure by mutual agreement. An express change of direction for a side still smarting from a 1-0 defeat to Wydad de Témara.
The 40-year-old coach has already taken charge: he ran his first session on Thursday evening and will make his debut on the bench on Saturday against FUS in the 7th round of Botola Pro. A baptism of fire for the man who leaves Moghreb Tétouan, where he had been appointed in September.
Six matches, and then he’s gone
Almeida’s story has been a short one. Appointed in July to succeed Pablo Franco, he leaves MAS Fès in seventh place with eight points, a record of two wins, two draws and two defeats in six league matches. The defeat to Wydad de Témara preceded his exit, formalised by mutual agreement, with the sources consulted giving no further details on the reasons.
The contrast with the previous campaign is striking. Pablo Franco had guided the Fès club to its first Botola Pro title in 41 years, with 59 points from 30 matches. An inheritance his successor had no time to build on.
El Karma, for his part, arrives with two Coupes du Trône to his name. He won them with Renaissance de Berkane in 2021-22, then with Olympique Club de Safi in 2024-25. According to dongqiudi.com, he thus becomes the second coach in the history of Moroccan football to lift the trophy with two different clubs.
Mabasa and Titus, first assets
On the pitch, El Karma can count on an attacking unit that has already delivered. South African striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, signed from Stellenbosch in August, has scored two Botola goals, both from the penalty spot. Devin Titus, also arrived from Stellenbosch, leads the club’s assists with two.
These figures, from the same source, do not on their own sum up a start to the season marked by the 1-0 defeat to Wydad de Témara. It is up to El Karma to make the most of that attacking potential.
FUS, then the continental stage
The calendar leaves little time to get going. On Saturday, MAS Fès host FUS in the 7th round, a first outing for the new staff. The club must also play in the CAF Champions League group stage.
In Group D, the Fassis will face Pyramids FC, Al Hilal and Horoya AC. A continental schedule on top of the Botola Pro one, with a new coach in place for less than a week.