فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fes, Morocco – The curtains fell yesterday, August 31, 2025, on the second edition of the friendly Hamid El Hazaz Tournament, organized by the Maghreb Athletic Sportive de Fès (MAS) club. The host team, “the MAS,” secured third place in the final standings after defeating Difaa Hassani El Jadidi with a 2-1 victory in the third-place playoff.
This result marks a return to the podium for the Fes-based team, which had previously won the inaugural edition in 2018 before being eliminated from this year’s semifinals. The tournament, held from August 27 to 31, reflects a tribute to the memory of the legendary club and national team goalkeeper, Hamid El Hazaz, who passed away in January 2018.
Tournament Path
Four teams from the Botola Pro league participated in this edition: MAS Fes, Wydad Athletic Club, Jeunesse Sportive Soualem, and Difaa Hassani El Jadidi. The tournament followed a direct elimination format, with the semifinals played on August 27 and 28.
- In the first semifinal, MAS Fes drew with Jeunesse Sportive Soualem, but the “MAS” lost on penalties (3-4), eliminating them from title contention.
- In the second semifinal, Wydad Athletic Club defeated Difaa Hassani El Jadidi on penalties (5-4) after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Playoff Match and Closing
The third-place match pitted the semifinal losers, MAS Fes and Difaa El Jadidi, against each other. MAS Fes managed to secure a 2-1 victory, providing a significant morale boost for the team ahead of the new 2025-2026 Botola Pro season.
The tournament attracted great interest from Fes fans and served as an opportunity to honor the late Hamid El Hazaz, with his widow giving the ceremonial kickoff for one of the matches, a gesture of loyalty and appreciation for his distinguished career.
Organizational Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite the sporting success of the tournament, some media sources noted the absence of some administrative officials from the event, which raised questions about the level of organization. However, this did not affect the course of the matches. The tournament is considered an important preparatory stop for the participating clubs, offering a glimpse into their readiness for the upcoming season.
While awaiting the announcement of the final match result between Wydad Athletic Club and Jeunesse Sportive Soualem, MAS Fes concludes its participation in the tournament with an honorable finish, reinforcing its hopes for achieving better results in the new football season.
