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Tag: Morocco

  • Qatar, Morocco to host Male, Female U-17 World Cups for the next five years

    Qatar, Morocco to host Male, Female U-17 World Cups for the next five years

    Oil rich Qatar has been given the hosting rights to stage the next five editions of the  Under-17 World Cup from 2025 to 2029, while the girls’ tournament is set to be played in Morocco, FIFA  announced on Thursday.

    FIFA has also announced that the U-17 tournaments  for both boys and girls will be held annually starting next year, with the boys’ event expanding from 24 to 48 teams. The number of girls’ teams involved will also increase, from 16 to 24.

    World football’s governing body said in December that both youth tournaments would be held annually starting next year, with the boys’ event expanding from 24 to 48 teams. The number of girls’ teams involved will also increase, from 16 to 24.

    World football’s governing body’s   decision to choose a single host nation for multiple editions centred on the ability to make “use of existing footballing infrastructure in the interest of tournament efficiencies and sustainability”.

    Qatar was the venue for the 2022 men’s World Cup and hosted this year’s Asian Cup after stepping in to replace the original host, China.

    Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with three matches to be played in South America to celebrate its centenary.

    Qatar and Morocco have both held the Club World Cup on multiple occasions. Morocco is also scheduled to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The expansion of the Under-17 World Cup reflects a general FIFA trend, with the men’s 2026 World Cup to feature 48 teams for the first time. Last year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand saw the field grow from 24 to 32 countries.

  • 13th African Games: Falconets defeat Morocco 2-0 in group B opener

    13th African Games: Falconets defeat Morocco 2-0 in group B opener

    The Falconets of Nigeria on Friday night defeated their Moroccan counterparts by 2-0 courtesy of an own goal and a second by A.Yina just before halftime to kickstart their 13th African Games on a winning note.

    The Nigerian girls, who won Gold in 2019 in Morocco, opened scoring in the 19th minute through an own goal and then doubled their lead just before halftime through A.Yina.

    The girls mounted pressure on their opponents but were undone by lack of clinical  finishing.

    Their next Group B match will be against Senegal on Monday night.

    Cameroon are the other team in this group.

    Hosts Ghana are drawn in Group A alongside Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda.

    The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals.

    Nigerian have been tagged overwhelming favourite to retain the title they last won in Rabat, Morocco four years ago.

  • 13th African Games: Morocco’s coach reveals mission against Nigeria’s Falconets

    13th African Games: Morocco’s coach reveals mission against Nigeria’s Falconets

    Lipoff Dimitri the Morocco female U-20 coach has revealed that  his team’s mission at the 2023 13th African Games.

    Dimitri said that his mission is to to improve on the team’s development.

    The North Africans will face defending champions Falconets of Nigeria in their opening fixture at the Cape Coast Stadium on Friday (today).

    The Falconets are overwhelming favourites to win the contest.

    Dimitri hinted that his side will approach the tournament with a focus on improvement and competitiveness.

    “We are here to improve and find solutions to better ourselves,” the gaffer told a press conference ahead of the game.

    Despite the challenges posed by formidable opponents, Morocco remains undaunted and ready to compete at their best, according to forward, Salma Tammar.

    “Our objective is to play well and prepare for the upcoming World Cup,” Tammar stated, emphasizing the importance of performing strongly in the African Games as a stepping stone to future success.

  • AFCON 2023: South Africa evict tournament favourite Morocco, to play Cape Verde in quarter-final

    AFCON 2023: South Africa evict tournament favourite Morocco, to play Cape Verde in quarter-final

    The Bafana Bafana of South Africa yesterday made a statement with their wonderful display against Morocco at the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

    Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena scored two second half goals that ended the dreams of the Atlas Lions of Morocco.

    Achraf Hakimi became a Villain after missing  a crucial penalty late in the game to equalize for the North Africans and change the tempo of the game.

    Tebiho Mokoena tooK advantage of Hakimi’s miss to convert a late freekick to seal victory for the South Africans.

    The North Africans, touted as tournament favourites became the latest major casualty 24 hours after defending champions, Senegal, were also dumped out.

    Sofyan Amrabat received the marching orders in the 92nd minute after fouling an onrushing South African forward who was clearly goal bound, the resultant freekick was taken and converted by Tebiho Mokoena for Bafana Bafana’s second goal.

    Bafana Bafana go through to a quarter-final on Saturday in Yamoussokro against tiny Cape Verde, who have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament so far.

    South Africa will test the might of the Blue sharks of Cape Verde next week in the quarter-final fixture at the ongoing AFCON tournament.

  • Gas Pipeline: FG, Morocco discuss final investment decision

    Gas Pipeline: FG, Morocco discuss final investment decision

    The Federal Government has intensified discussions with the Kingdom of Morocco to fast-track the process of achieving the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project.

    The discussion held on the sidelines of a meeting between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, and Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Ms. Leila Benali.

    It was anchored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC Ltd), Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr Olalekan Ogunleye and the Director-General, Morocco National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), Mme Benkhadra.

    This is contained in a statement by the NNPC Ltd Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye,  on Thursday in Abuja.

    Soneye said the talks focused on how to drive the partnership between the two countries to accelerate the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project.

    This, he said was in line with the series of Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) signed between the two countries in Abuja in 2022.

    He said both parties emphasised its strategic importance to the two countries and the entire African continent, and the need to drive toward its completion expeditiously in line with the objective of stemming energy poverty on the continent.

    Recall that the Cooperation Agreement for the 48″ x 5,300km pipeline from Nigeria to Dhakia (Morocco) and 1,700km from Dhakia to Northern Morocco was signed in 2017.

    It has a capacity of 30 billion cubic meter (bcm) per year (equivalent of 3.0 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day).

    The pipeline would traverse Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and terminate in Morocco with a spur to Spain.

    Due to the international nature of the project, the ECOWAS Commission is saddled with the responsibility to facilitate inter-governmental treaty and host government agreements, establishment of Pipeline Higher Authority, and alignment with AU, UN and other international bodies.

    The project, among other things, will help drive the monetisation of Nigeria’s gas resources, maintain NNPC Ltd.’s energy leadership in Africa, and promote economic and regional cooperation among African Countries.

    The minister had in Nov. 2023 received envoys from Morocco, led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, Moha Ou Ali Tagma for a bilateral discussion on cooperation and commitment towards finalising the project.

  • AFCON 2023: Why CAF banned Morocco coach, Walid Regragui

    AFCON 2023: Why CAF banned Morocco coach, Walid Regragui

    The Confederation of African Football, CAF has resealed why it banned the coach of Morocco, Walid Regragui for two games at the ongoing 2023 AFCON presently holding in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Regragui served one of the ban in Morocco’s last group game against the Chipolopolo of Zambia but his boys won 1-0.

    Regragui sat in the stands for the duration of the entire game, whilst his assistant took charge from the bench.

    According to CAF, the altercation between the captain of Democratic Republic of Congo  Chancel Mbemba during the last group F encounter between both sides led to his suspension.

    The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) revealed Regragui’s ban in a statement published on Wednesday, while confirming they intended to appeal.

    The statement said the FRMF had “decided to appeal this incomprehensible decision due to the fact that Regragui did not at any point contravene the spirit of fair play”.

    However, Regragui’s ban was effective for Wednesday’s final Cup of Nations group game against Zambia, with assistant coach Rachid Benmahmoud taking his place on the bench.

    The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists were already assured of a place in the next round before facing Zambia.

    The incident between Regragui and Mbemba came as players and staff from both sides brawled at the end of the 1-1 draw between Morocco and DR Congo in San-Pedro on Sunday,

    Regragui entered the pitch and appeared to have strong words with Marseille defender Mbemba, while also attempting to shake the player’s hand.

    The two men then had to be separated by several people.

  • AFCON 2023: Tournament favourite, Morocco stumble, held 1-1 by DR Congo

    AFCON 2023: Tournament favourite, Morocco stumble, held 1-1 by DR Congo

    Katompa Myumpa earned DR Congo a deserved draw against one of tournament favourite, the Atlas Lions of Morocco.

    Achraf Hakimi put Morocco ahead early in the game at San -pedro but Myumpa ensured both sides would have a share of the spoils.

    Having beaten Tanzania 3-0 in their opening game, Morocco are on top of Group F with four points, with DR Congo on two points after starting by drawing 1-1 with Zambia.

    The Leopards were awarded a penalty late in the first half for a Selim Amallah handball following a VAR check, but Galatasaray forward Bakambu’s kick hit the post and went wide.

    Tanzania and Zambia will meet each other in Sunday’s other game, before 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco take on the Zambians in their last group outing on Wednesday with the aim of wrapping up a spot in the knockout stage.

    The Atlas Lions of Morocco would have to wait till the last game of group F before grabbing qualification to the second round of the ongoing AFCON.

    The result leaves the group open as any of the other teams can still qualify from the group.

     

     

  • AFCON 2023: Clinical Morocco thrash Tanzania 3-0; Zambian, Republic of Congo play draw

    AFCON 2023: Clinical Morocco thrash Tanzania 3-0; Zambian, Republic of Congo play draw

    Morocco lived up to pre-tournament hype  by beating 10-man Tanzania 3-0 to make a winning start to their 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Group F.

    The World Cup semi finalists got their campaign under way with an impressive performance at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro on Wednesday.

    Captain Romain Saiss opened the floodlight of goals to put the Atlas Lions ahead at halftime with Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri adding two more to emphasise their dominance, especially after Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off after a second caution.

    En-Nesyri had to wait until he was on the substitutes’ bench before celebrating his goal.

    En-Nesyri’s celebrations were initially cut short by the offside flag after he scored his team’s third goal in the 80th minute.

    He had already made way for substitute Amine Harit to go on in his place before a VAR check confirmed he had been onside for Achraf Hakimi’s cross.

    It prompted En-Nesyri’s teammates to rush to the Moroccan bench to congratulate the Sevilla forward.

    Ounahi sealed the win seven minutes later after playing a one-two with Amine Adli and striking a low shot inside the left post, three minutes before En-Nesyri had the final say.

    Although the African powerhouse for decades, Morocco are seeking only a second Cup of Nations title 48 years after lifting the trophy in Ethiopia.

    Elsewhere, the Chipolopolo of Zambian drew 1-1 with the Republic of Congo.

  • Morocco 2025 AFCON : CAF announces kick off date

    Morocco 2025 AFCON : CAF announces kick off date

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the kick-off date for the qualifiers of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Morocco 2025.

    According to CAF, the preliminary round will take place from March 18 to 26, 2024.

    The first and second round matches are scheduled from September 2 to 10, 2024.

    The third and fourth round games will take place from September 7 to 15, 2024.

    The final rounds of the qualifiers are slated for November 11 to 19, 2024.

    Morocco got the hosting right of the tournament after Guinea was stripped of its hosting rights due to political unrest in the West African nation.

    Meanwhile AFCON 20243 is meant to kick start in January in Cote d’ Ivoire

     

  • CAF Awards: Morocco’s Walid Regragui wins coach of the year

    CAF Awards: Morocco’s Walid Regragui wins coach of the year

    Following his exploit at the 2022 WorldCup where he led Morocco to the semi-final of the competition,  the Moroccan national football team’s head coach Walid Regragui has been crowned  the Coach of the Year  during the 2023 CAF Awards ceremony organized in Marrakech.

    Coming ahead of Senegalese coach Aliou Cisse, and Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha, Regragui was lauded for his historic achievement with the Atlas Lions in the 2022 World Cup, advancing the team for the first time to the semi-finals.