Winner away against TAS Casablanca (0-1), AS Salé (ASS) has moved closer to the top of the standings of the national second division (D2) football championship, thanks to the poor performance of the leader, Kawkab Marrakech (KACM), held to a draw by Rachad Bernoussi (1-1), during the 16th day, played this weekend. The Bouregreg corsairs, who owe their victory to Hamdi Laachir, author of the only goal of the match (79th), are now only one point behind the autumn champions, who were facing a tenacious team still in the running for one of the tickets leading to the upper tier (4th, 24 pts). With 11 victories each this season, KACM (38 pts) and ASS (37 pts) have taken great steps towards realizing their dream of returning to the Pro-Elite 1 championship, especially since the runner-up is 9 points ahead of the 3rd position, occupied by Ittihad Khémisset, winner away at Union Oujda (2-1). For its part, Union Aït Melloul, which beat Youssoufia Berchid by 2 goals to 0, took 8th place with 21 points, one point behind its opponent of the day (6th). At the bottom of the table, nothing is working anymore for the Ittihad Tanger teams, which drew 0-0 in Oujda against the local Mouloudia (5th, 23 pts), and RAC Casablanca, defeated in Témara against the local Union (0-1). They remain in the relegation zone, respectively 14th (14 pts) and 16th (12 pts) in the standings.