Algeria Football– Raja Club Athletic is going through a period of turbulence, with surprising decisions and notable departures among its emblematic figures. One of the major events of this winter transfer window concerns Anas Zniti, the club’s legendary goalkeeper, who officially requested the termination of his contract after a decade spent in the green and white colors. At 36, Zniti, who joined Raja in 2015 from the Maghreb from Fez, decided to turn the page on a love story which saw him establish himself as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers of the club’s recent history.
Zniti’s request for termination of contract, according to local sources, is linked to internal disputes and financial arrears which are accumulating, exceeding 400 million centimes. The guard does not seem willing to give in and would be ready to take legal action if his demands are not met. This decision comes in an already tense context, exacerbated by an altercation with supporters during a trip to Pretoria and by an own goal during a defeat against AS FAR, a historic rival of Raja.
Anas Zniti, beyond his current differences, leaves behind an impressive track record. Since his arrival in 2015, he has won numerous titles, including two CAF Confederation Cups, an African Super Cup in 2019, a Mohammed VI Champions Club Cup in 2021, as well as a Botola Pro title and a Cup of the Throne. He was also voted Botola’s best goalkeeper on six occasions, a remarkable achievement which testifies to his consistency and his essential contribution to the club’s success. In the 2023/24 season, he recorded 17 clean sheets in 30 matches, a major indicator of his importance in winning the Moroccan championship title.
Note that Zniti is the goalkeeper Belaili scored from midfield in the Arab Cup match in Qatar.
However, Zniti’s departure is not an isolated incident. Raja Casablanca, which has gone through several internal crises in recent years, is prey to profound instability. Since the start of the season, the club has already changed coaches four times, and several important players, including Algerian striker Yousri Bouzok, have left the ship. On the field, the situation is just as worrying: after 16 days, Raja is in a modest 9th place with only 23 points, far from its usual ambitions of title and international competitions.
The crisis is also palpable in the CAF Champions League, where elimination from the group stage seems imminent. These poor performances on the field reflect dysfunctions behind the scenes, particularly at the level of club management and internal cohesion, problems which weigh heavily on the immediate future of Raja Casablanca.
Anas Zniti, with his departure, seems to want to close a difficult chapter. His absence could mark a turning point in the history of the club, which will have to reinvent itself after years of success. The next few months will be crucial for Raja, which must imperatively overcome its crisis in order to hope to regain stability and regain its level on the national and continental scene.
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