Just two weeks after leaving Kaizer Chiefs, goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi has finalised a deal to reunite with Nasreddine Nabi at Moroccan giants Raja Athletic Club, FARPost has learnt.
Mzoughi was recently released by Chiefs alongside co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze. Conditioning coach Majdi Safi also left the Soweto giants.
Kaze has since joined Sekhukhune United, while Ben Youssef is headed for Durban City FC. An official announcement is expected in the coming days as Mzoughi joins Raja’s technical team. Nabi is assembling his backroom staff for his new chapter in Morocco.
Nabi recently replaced South African coach Fadlu Davids at the three-time African champions. He has overseen two games, securing a 1-1 draw against Union Touarga and a 4-3 win over RCA Zemamra.
While Davids left alongside members of his backroom staff, Nabi arrived alone with just seven games remaining in the season. With Mzoughi’s signature now secured, the former AS FAR Rabat mentor has brought in a trusted lieutenant to shore up his bench.
The development comes shortly after Mzoughi’s departure from Chiefs, where he spent two seasons after arriving alongside Nabi in 2024.
WHY ILYES MZOUGHI DIDN’T STAY AT KAIZER CHIEFS
FARPost understands that Mzoughi was initially keen to remain at Naturena. The Tunisian goalkeeper coach was open to working under the newly appointed head coach, Fernando Da Cruz, who replaced co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. However, Amakhosi informed Mzoughi that Da Cruz preferred to bring in his own goalkeeper coach, effectively bringing his stay at the club to an end.
Mzoughi’s contribution became particularly evident during his second season at Chiefs. Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen enjoyed arguably his finest campaign for the club, emerging as one of Amakhosi’s standout performers and keeping 18 clean sheets across all competitions. Many in football circles viewed Petersen’s performances and the overall improvement in the club’s goalkeeping department as a direct reflection of Mzoughi’s work behind the scenes.
Shortly after his Chiefs exit, Mzoughi briefly worked with the Burkina Faso national team setup for their international friendlies. He was involved when they fell 3-0 to Russia recently, before holding Belarus to a 2-2 draw. However, Nabi’s move to Raja opened the door to a permanent return to club football. The relationship between the two compatriots remained strong even after Nabi left Chiefs at the start of last season.
Mzoughi boasts extensive experience in both club and international football. Prior to joining Chiefs, he spent four years as the goalkeeper coach of the Mauritania national team and has also worked across North Africa and the Gulf region, following a playing career that included spells in France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Raja Casablanca are currently fourth on the table, just three points adrift of Pablo Franco Martin’s MAS Fes. With five games left to go, Nabi will look to push to the wire to see if they can clinch the league title.
RELATED STORY: Ilyes Mzoughi takes up Burkina Faso role after Kaizer Chiefs exit