RWD Molenbeek’s hopes for direct promotion to the Jupiler Pro League were dashed by a narrow defeat last Friday, but the Belgian club remains firmly in the hunt for top-tier football with the promotion playoffs just around the corner.
With only three matches remaining in the regular season, the Molenbeek side currently sits in third place, behind Zulte Waregem and La Louvière, but the upcoming playoffs provide another opportunity for them to secure a place in the country’s premier football division.
The highly anticipated promotion playoffs kick off this Thursday at 20:30, featuring a thrilling semi-final matchup between Lokeren-Temse and RWD Molenbeek, alongside Patro Eisden facing Beveren.
Lokeren-Temse, despite a recent string of impressive form, having won eight of their last nine matches, will be hosting Molenbeek in Waasland. The team’s only recent defeat came at the hands of Molenbeek, losing 1-0 to the Brussels-based club in the regular season.
In a twist of fate, Lokeren-Temse has not been granted a licence to play in the Jupiler Pro League, a decision they have since appealed. Should Lokeren-Temse’s appeal fail, it will mean that Molenbeek will remain in contention for direct promotion by winning the playoffs.
RWD Molenbeek’s failure to secure direct promotion marked a bitter moment at the Machtens Stadium last week, leading to the dismissal of head coach Yannick Ferrera.
In an effort to turn the tide, the club brought in young French coach Gueïda Fofana, who was previously with the Lyon reserve team.
However, despite Fofana’s arrival, it will be Igor de Camargo, a former Belgian international, who takes charge of the team for the crucial fixtures, starting with the first leg of the semi-finals against Lokeren-Temse at Daknam.
The return legs of the semi-finals will take place on Sunday at 19:15, with the outcome of these matches crucial in determining which two teams will meet in the final. The final will be held on the weekend of 3 and 11 May at 16:00, with the higher-ranked team in the regular season enjoying home advantage for the second leg.
The winner of the promotion playoffs will then face off against the second-placed team in the Jupiler Pro League Relegation Playoffs, which could involve one of Saint-Trond, Cercle Bruges, or Kortrijk.
These high-stakes encounters are set to take place on Sunday, 18 May, at 19:15, and Friday, 23 May, at 20:45, with the overall prize being a coveted place in Division 1A for the following season.
While Molenbeek’s supporters will no doubt be disappointed by the near miss of automatic promotion, the club’s focus now shifts entirely to the promotion playoffs, where they will need to overcome a tough field of competitors to achieve their goal.
With a new coach at the helm and a talented squad, Molenbeek will hope to complete what has been a dramatic season by earning their spot among Belgium’s elite clubs.
