South African coach Rulani Mokwena has officially parted ways with Algerian Ligue 1 champions, MC Alger, to take on the prestigious role of head coach at Libyan giants Al Ittihad SC.
This significant shift in North African football marks the culmination of months of speculation about Mokwena’s future, especially given Al Ittihad’s longstanding admiration for his tactical prowess. The timing of Mokwena’s departure aligns closely with recent upheavals at MC Alger following Khaled Ben Yahia’s departure, intensifying the club’s search for a new direction.
During a post-match conference after their exit from the Algerian Cup, Mokwena’s comments about team dynamics hinted at potential dissatisfaction: “These are the types of games squads win if they want their coach to stay at the club,” he remarked — a statement that fuelled the fire of speculation among fans and pundits alike.
MC Alger’s official statement elaborated on Mokwena’s decision, revealing that the coach had convened with the club’s management to express his desire to conclude his stint after just eight months.
The statement highlighted Mokwena’s contributions, particularly leading the team to the Algerian Premier Cup title and maintaining their position at the top of the league standings early in the season. Despite these successes, the club’s exit from both the Copa Algeria and the CAF Champions League painted a complex picture of the season.
In appreciation of Mokwena’s efforts, the management of MC Alger expressed their gratitude, noting: “The management of MC Algeria would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to coach Rulani Mokwena and his technical staff for the work and efforts they have put forward during their supervision of the team. They wish them all the best and success.”
As for Al Ittihad, sources confirm that an official agreement is in place between the club and Mokwena, with the coach also instrumental in their off-season signings of talents such as Thembinkosi Lorch and Stephane Aziz Ki from Wydad Athletic Club.
Under this new agreement, Mokwena will spearhead an ambitious project at Al Ittihad, where he has signed a two-year contract with the option to extend. The coaching community eagerly awaits his unveiling in the coming days, as he prepares to steer one of the most storied clubs in Libyan football history.
