CAF Champions League winners Wydad Athletic Club were in high spirits when they arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday morning. The Moroccan club, who are making their FIFA Club World Cup debut, will take on Mexico’s Pachuca in their opening match of the tournament at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Saturday.

After completing their final training session in Casablanca on Wednesday evening, Wydad boarded a private jet for the flight to Abu Dhabi Airport.

The 14-time Moroccan champions head into the competition full of confidence following three consecutive wins in the league. A further cause for optimism is the fact they have held on to the core of the side that won the African title.

Wydad will hope to emulate, or even exceed, arch rivals Raja Casablanca’s achievement in finishing runners-up to Bayern Munich in the 2013 competition.