Raja Club Athletic opened their 2026-27 Botola Pro campaign with a 1-0 victory over Renaissance Zemamra at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday.
Othmane Chraibi scored the decisive goal in the 27th minute as Raja began their league season with three points.
The hosts created chances to extend their lead after going in front, while Zemamra also had opportunities to find an equaliser. Neither side was able to add to the score, however, allowing Raja to hold on for victory.
Chraibi puts Raja ahead
Chraibi broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a strike that gave coach Paco Jemez’s side control of the match.
The 23-year-old midfielder’s goal was his first of the new Botola campaign and provided Raja with the platform they needed to secure all three points.
Raja continued to push for a second goal, but Zemamra remained dangerous and threatened to punish their failure to put the game beyond doubt.
The visitors ultimately could not convert their opportunities as Raja protected their narrow advantage until the final whistle.
Raja finally begin their league campaign
Despite being listed as a Matchday 2 fixture, Saturday’s game was Raja’s first league appearance of the season.
Their opening match against AS FAR had been postponed before the start of the campaign, with the decision reportedly linked to international commitments involving several AS FAR players.
A new date for the fixture has yet to be confirmed.
Raja entered the Zemamra game with a 20-player squad that included several new arrivals, although Jordan international Mohamed Abu Zraiq, better known as Sharara, was unavailable because of international duty.
Chraibi, who joined Raja in July 2025 and is under contract until June 2027, now has his first league goal of the season.
Zemamra suffer second defeat
The victory moves Raja onto three points and into sixth place in the early standings, although they still have their postponed fixture against AS FAR to play.
Zemamra, meanwhile, have suffered defeats in both of their opening matches.
They began the campaign with a 2-1 loss away to defending champions Maghreb de Fes and were unable to recover against Raja.
Raja will now turn their attention to building momentum after their delayed start, while Zemamra face the task of finding their first points of the season.
