South African forward Cassius Mailula has spoken out about his future with Wydad Athletic Club following their early exit from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Wydad wrapped up their tournament campaign on Thursday evening with a 2-1 defeat to Al Ain at Audi Field Stadium. Mailula scored the lone goal for the Moroccan side.
READ | Mailula's goal not enough to save Wydad
The two teams were just honouring the fixture as Manchester City and Juventus had already progressed to the Round of 16 before the match.
The Botola Pro League giants finished bottom of Group G without registering a single win. They suffered a 2-0 defeat to City, followed by a 4-1 loss to Juventus, and were unable to claim victory against Ain in their final group stage game.
Mailula, who joined Wydad on loan from Toronto FC in August 2024, was signed under former coach Rulani Mokwena. With the loan deal nearing its end, the 23-year-old is expected to return to his American side.
However, recent reports suggest that current Wydad head coach Amine Benhachem is keen to keep Mailula at the club for the upcoming season, potentially permanently.
Now that Wydad’s Club World Cup campaign is over and his loan spell is nearly complete, Mailula has shared his thoughts on what lies ahead.
"We played as a team and performed well, We could have done better, given the penalty and the way we defended, but overall I think the players learned a lot from this competition," Mailula told the media, as quoted by Elbotola.
"It was a tough group for us, but I think the players gave their best. Wydad has become a strong team now. It's clear that the players are not used to each other, as some of them arrived three or four days before the start of the tournament.
"However, I believe that if they had a good preparatory season, the team would have performed well. We apologize to the fans for not giving them the best results, but overall I think the players tried hard, but it wasn't easy. I think it was a good experience for us as a team, and we learned a lot of lessons," Mailula continued.
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"Now I love Wydad and I love Morocco. They have taken care of me, but I think it's time for me to be with my family to think and see what the future holds for me," he added.
"Obviously, I will talk to the club, my agent and my family as well, to see if it is a good project for me to return next season or not, but it was amazing. Wydad took care of me, and it will be great to be here next season as well."
Photo: Wydad Athletic Club
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