Why Lorch is still playing for Wydad after Al Ittihad move

Football fans across the continent were doing double-takes this weekend as South African maestro Thembinkosi Lorch suited up for Wydad Casablanca, despite having been officially unveiled by Libyan side Al Ittihad just days prior.

The sight of Lorch coming off the bench in a Wydad jersey on Sunday night—following a glitzy introduction in Tripoli last Thursday—left many questioning the validity of his transfer. However, the explanation lies in a sophisticated “gentleman’s agreement” between the two North African powerhouses.

Thembinkosi Lorch 🇿🇦 thanks @WACofficiel 🇲🇦 in a post-match interview after a 1-0 #TotalEnergiesCAFCC victory for Wydad over AS Maniema Union 🇨🇩.#CAFCC #DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/Np2LOZFBFJ

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) January 25, 2026

A Loan with a Difference – Lorch

According to insiders, while Lorch is legally an Al Ittihad player, a formal short-term arrangement was brokered to keep him in Morocco for the initial stages of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The 32-year-old playmaker entered the pitch in the 65th minute against Maniema Union, helping the “Red Castle” secure a vital 1-0 victory at the Stade Mohammed V. The deal reportedly allows Lorch to remain with Wydad for two specific continental fixtures before he finally moves his base to Libya.

“The coaches may still utilise him for the return leg in the DRC this coming Sunday,” a source close to the deal revealed to FARPost. “A final decision on his travel to Libya will be made later this week based on the squad’s needs for the away trip.”

Wydad has not been resting on its laurels during this transition. The club has already secured Lorch’s successor in the form of 18-year-old Bolivian sensation Moses Paniagua.

Paniagua arrives with a burgeoning reputation from Always Ready, where he previously linked up with former Kaizer Chiefs man Jasond Gonzalez. Despite his youth, the versatile attacker is already a senior international with five caps for Bolivia.

While the Bafana Bafana star leaves behind a solid legacy in Casablanca—netting eight goals in 28 appearances—the acquisition of Paniagua signals a shift toward a more youthful, high-intensity offensive line.

Lorch is expected to join his former Orlando Pirates teammate Stephane Aziz Ki at Al Ittihad immediately following his final continental duties for Wydad.