After 16 years of absence, CODM ready to take on the challenge of Botola Pro D1 2024-2025
Hibapress
In anticipation of the 2024-2025 season of the Botola Pro D1, the Club Omnisports de Meknès (CODM) is preparing to make its grand return to the elite of national football. After an absence of 16 years, the club from the Ismaili city is determined to create a surprise and reconnect with its glorious past.
CODM’s recent journey has been remarkable. In just two years, the team has managed to move from the third to the first division, an accomplishment that confirms the club’s determination and ambition.
This rise, however, presents new challenges for management, which must quickly adapt to the demands of the first division.
The 2023-2024 season was particularly brilliant for CODM. The team finished first in the second division championship with a total of 58 points, ahead of Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi by six points.
With 17 wins, 7 draws and only 6 losses in 30 matches, CODM has demonstrated its solidity and consistency throughout the season.
Aware of the stakes associated with this promotion, the CODM leaders have opted for a cautious approach to recruitment. Keen to avoid potential disputes with players, they insist on the fact that new signings are made in a rational manner, in accordance with the club’s financial means.
This strategy aims to ensure the financial stability of the team while strengthening the squad to face the challenges of the Botola Pro D1.
The CODM seeks to create an optimal balance between promising young talents and experienced players.
This approach is illustrated by the recruitment of players like Mehdi Karnass, whose experience in the elite will be valuable in guiding the club’s youngsters. The arrival of Hamza Bahaj, who played for clubs like Chabab Mohammedia, MAS and WAF, also strengthens the squad.
On the bench, CODM called upon Abdelhay Ben Soltane, former coach of MAS Fez. His experience and knowledge of Moroccan football will be major assets to help the team adapt quickly to the demands of the first division.
For this season of return among the elite, the CODM displays measured but real ambitions. The main objective is to present an attractive game and to give back to the city of Meknes the place it deserves on the national football scene. The club aims to establish itself sustainably in the first division and to rekindle the flame of its supporters who have been waiting for this return for so long.
In parallel with the sports preparations, the main stadium of the CODM is undergoing major redevelopment works. According to the site managers, the works are already more than 80% advanced under the supervision of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The stadium should be ready to host CODM matches from the 5th or 7th day of the championship. In the meantime, the team will play its first home matches at the Hassan II stadium in Fez.
CODM’s return to the top division is a major event for Moroccan football. Founded in 1962, the club from the Ismaili capital has a rich track record, including a victory in the Throne Cup in 1966 and a title of Moroccan champion in 1995. After leaving the elite in 2013, the club experienced difficult years, navigating between the second division and the amateur divisions for 16 years.
This rise to the first division therefore marks the return of one of the most prestigious clubs in the country to the highest level, promising to enrich the competition and revive great rivalries.
