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Tag: Morocco

  • Algeria 2023: Morocco pip Eaglets to reach quarter finals

    Algeria 2023: Morocco pip Eaglets to reach quarter finals

    Morocco earned all three points to sail into the quarter-finals of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations as the Golden Eaglets wasted a basketful of opportunities in a match they dominated for large periods in Constantine on Wednesday.

    An own goal by Tochukwu Ogboji as early as the 2nd minute was all the Moroccans, who downed South Africa’s Amajimbo 2-0 on the opening day, needed to make it within a step of booking a spot at this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup.

    As happened in their opening match against Zambia, the Eaglets created chance after chance but pathetically lacked precision in front of goal.

    Abubakar Abdullahi should have done better than balloon the ball skywards after Emmanuel Michael put him through in the 21st minute, and captain Precious Williams also failed to make hay as the North Africans mounted an impregnable rearguard.

    Defender Yahaya Lawali, who was again picked as Man-of-the-Match despite Nigeria’s loss, shot towards the sky with a through ball in the 69th minute. Substitutes Light Eke and Adewale Quadri provided the only real tests for the Moroccan goalkeeper in a frantic second period.

    The Eaglets will now play South Africa on Saturday, and victory is imperative in order to be assured of qualification to the last eight.

  • Algeria 2023: CAF names officials for Nigeria/Morocco clash

    Algeria 2023: CAF names officials for Nigeria/Morocco clash

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Malian official Ousmane Diakate as centre referee for Wednesday’s clash between Nigeria and Morocco in Constantine.

    The match is at the ongoing Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Queency Clodia Victoire from Mauritius will be the match’s Assistant Referee 1, while Cape Verde’s Djêry Gomes Lopes will be Assistant Referee 2.

    Ben Amisy Tsimanohitsy from Madagascar will serve as fourth official while Negash Teklit Negassi from Eritrea will be the Match Commissioner.

    Raphael Evehe Divine from Cameroon will be in the role of Referees Assessor and Gabonese Eric Otogo Castane will be the General Coordinator.

    In the 12-team tournament, the first two top-placed teams in each of the three groups will advance to the quarter-finals.

    They are to be joined by the best two third-placed teams.

    The quarter-final matches will produce the four semi-finalists, who will also automatically qualify as Africa’s representatives at this year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup finals.

  • FIFA CWC: Real Madrid defeat Al Hilal 5-3, win fifth title

    FIFA CWC: Real Madrid defeat Al Hilal 5-3, win fifth title

    UEFA Champions League defending Champions, Real Madrid yesterday defeated Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal 5-3 to emerge winners of this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.

    The first 20 minute of the encounter produced two goals for the Galacticos, courtesy of  Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde, before Al Hilal pulled one back shortly afterwards through Malian forward Moussa Marega.

    Karim Benzema, back in the team after injury, then made it 3-1 to Madrid after 54 minutes and Valverde scored his second of the night to put Los Blancos 4-1 up before an hour had been played.

    But Al Hilal did not give in and former Atletico and Villarreal forward Lucas Vietto scored twice, before Vinicius added the 5th to put the game beyond reach for the Saudi-Arabian side 10 minute to the end of the encounter.

    Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who qualified as Champions League winners last season, had far too much attacking quality for their opponents to handle.

    The result meant that Madrid have won the tourney for the fifth time in their career and the only club ever to do so.

    The feat is also Madrid’s  second piece of silverware of the season, after winning the European Super Cup in August.

    Recall that Madrid also won the Intercontinental Cup (which preceded this tournament) on three occasions.

    “We are very happy, for the eighth time Madrid are champions of the world, it was what we had to do,” Ancelotti told Telecinco.

    “We’re happy, it was a good game. We had a lot of quality up front.

    “I think we were good up front, with Vinicius, Karim, Valverde, who got two, up top the team had mobility and quality.”

     

     

  • Egypt 2023: Flying Eagles land in Morocco to continue preparations

    Egypt 2023: Flying Eagles land in Morocco to continue preparations

    Nigeria’s  Flying Eagles left the country yesterday for Morocco to continue their preparation for AFCON under 20 tourneys meant for Egypt later in the month.

    The Flying Eagles of Nigeria has won the tourney seven times in their history and will be gunning for their eight title.

    Ladan Bosso’s side will spend a few days in Morocco for the final stage of their preparations for the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

    The 2023 U-20 AFCON will start in Egypt next weekend and run till March 11 across three cities: Cairo, Ismailia and Alexandria.

    The Flying Eagles are the most successful side in the history of the competition with seven titles.

    Much is expected from the West Africans after their exploits at the WAFU B U-20 Championship last May where they emerged winners after strolling past neighbours, Benin Republic 3-0 in the final.

    Talented forward, Adams Olamilekan is confident they will return home with the trophy.

    “We have a strong team and have what it takes to beat the other teams in Egypt,”

    “We will take it game by game and I believe the quality in our team will see us through,” he said.

    Olamilekan’s view was corroborated by goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu.

    “We are going to Egypt to conquer Africa again,” he stated.

  • AFCON Qualifier: Guinea Bissau to play Super Eagles in Morocco

    AFCON Qualifier: Guinea Bissau to play Super Eagles in Morocco

    Following the resumption of  AFCON qualifying games that was suspended as a result of the shift in date of the tourney Guinea Bissau will play its home games in Morocco for the remainder of the qualifying series.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be Guinea Bissau’s next opponent and the game has been fixed for Casablanca in Morocco.

    The match will hold on Thursday, March 23, with the reverse fixture slated for the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja four days later.

    Guinea-Bissau’s home stadia, Estadio 24 de Setembro and Estadio Lino Correia were not approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host games in the qualifiers.

    The two grounds failed to meet CAF’s requirements to host international matches.

    According to reports emanating from the West African country, the Guinea Bissau Football Federation have been granted permission by their Moroccan counterpart to host their home games in the country.

    The Djurtus are second in Group B with four points from two games.

    Baciro Cande’s side lost 2-0 to the Super Eagles the last time both teams met in a group game at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

    Two teams will emerge from the group for the tournament billed to hold in Ivory Coast January 2024.

  • FIFA CWC: Real Madrid to face African champions, Al Ahly in Wednesday’s semi-final

    FIFA CWC: Real Madrid to face African champions, Al Ahly in Wednesday’s semi-final

    Real Madrid will travel to Morocco later this month for this year’s  FIFA Club World Cup tourney.

    The Spanish La Liga side will be competing at the competition owing to winning the UEFA Champions League last season.

    Los Blancos will now aim to add another trophy to their collection.

    The La Liga champions now know who they will face in Wednesday’s semi-final encounter, following the resumption of the quarterfinals on Saturday.

    Al Ahly defeated MLS club Seattle Sounders over the weekend.

    The Egyptian champions will now face Real Madrid in Rabat.

    The winner will face either Flamengo or Al Hilal in the Club World Cup final, due to be played next weekend.

  • CHAN 2023: Five major talking points of the tournament

    CHAN 2023: Five major talking points of the tournament

    CHAN 2023 will get underway today in the North African nation of Algeria, with the host nation scheduled to slug it out with neighbour Algeria at the Algiers international stadium in the country’s capital.

    TheNewsGuru brings you five talking points of the 2023 edition of the tournament

    ALGERIA  2023

    Championnat d’Afrique des Nations (CHAN) is a CAF tournament organized yearly to promote the continent’s domestic league and by African-basedican based players.

    The purpose is to organize an international competittion for African players who ply their trade in their own domestic leagues..

    That means, for example, that Nigeria  can’t solicit the services of Victor Osimhen and Senegal won’t be able to call upon Chelsea’s Goalkeeper Edourd Mendy.

    CHAN 2022 POSTPONED TO 2023

    You might be wondering why the 2022 CHAN is being played in January 2023.

    Algeria 2022 was meant to hold last year but the tournament suffered postponement due to backlog in the international football calendar, with the CHAN being pushed back six month as a result.

    Algiers’ Nelson Mandela stadium seats 40,784 and will host several important matches during the competition including the opening match and the final on 4 February.

    It’s the first major football continental tournament held in Algeria in a long while and it’s long overdue.

    This is the seventh edition but Algeria’s first time hosting. The country is unveiling a brand new football-specific stadium to mark the occasion.

    GHANA AGAIN QUALIFIED AHEAD OF NIGERIA

    After qualifying for the FIFA Men’s world Cup at Nigeria’s expense Ghana again qualified ahead of Nigeria for the 2022 tournament starting today in Algeria.

    Despite a dramatic fight back from the home-based Super Eagles of Nigeria, it was not to be as the Salisu Yusuf-led side lost on penalties to the Black Galaxies of Ghana and miss out on qualification for the 2022 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Ghana defeated Nigeria 5-4 on penalties in the second leg of their second round qualifying tie at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja after playing a 2-2 draw.

    WHY MORROCO PULLED OUT

    Morocco are the two-time defending champions, but the North Africans will not participate at the tournament in Algeria over political row with the host nation.

    Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) decided to withdraw – just one day before the opening ceremony.

    Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been strained for many decades – due largely to the twists and turns of several different disputes over territory – but in August 2021, when Algeria broke off diplomatic ties entirely, it also closed its airspace to Moroccan aircraft.

    Last month, on 27 December, FRMF president and budget minister delegate Fouzi Lekjaa announced that unless the team could land directly in host city Constantine, where they would be playing their matches, on board a Royal Air Maroc flight, the Atlas Lions would pull out.

    A stand-off ensued, with neither nation willing to budge. Caf also remained silent on the issue, which eventually worsened the crisis.

    It was the FRMF who finally broke cover on 12 January, releasing a statement that said: “The Moroccan national team is unable to travel to Constantine (Algeria) to play the 7th edition of the African Nations Championship and defend its title insofar as the final authorisation of the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight, official carrier of the Moroccan football team, from Rabat to Constantine has not been confirmed.”

    The ramifications of the withdrawal are yet to be announced but Caf’s rulebook seems to suggest Morocco could be banned from the next CHAN.

    UGANDAN AND LIBYA TOO

    Uganda and Libya also threatened to withdraw from the 2023 edition of  CHAN with a few days to go although not for political and legal reasons, their own excuse was largely financial reasons  but their respective issues were resolved and the rest of the teams are expected to compete.

    After increasing the number of participating teams to 18 the withdrawal of Morocco at the dying minute has again altered the formation and the settings of the tournament.

    Now, CAF is expected to rejig its format in the tournament to give room for a smooth process in the tournament.

    Group below

    Groups

    Group A (Algiers): Algeria, Libya, Ethiopia, Mozambique

    Group B (Annaba): DR Congo, Uganda, Côte D’Ivoire, Senegal

    Group C (Constantine): Sudan, Madagascar, Ghana, Morocco (withdrew)

    Group D (Oran):Mali, Angola, Mauritania

    Group E (Oran):Cameroon, Congo, Niger

  • Morocco withdraw from CHAN, blame Algeria

    Morocco withdraw from CHAN, blame Algeria

    Morocco will not take part in the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) being held in Algeria, the Moroccan football federation said on Thursday.

    This was after the Algerian government rejected Morocco’s request for the team to fly there directly on Morocco’s national airline.

    Algeria closed its airspace to Moroccan aircraft in 2021 after it unilaterally severed diplomatic ties with its North African neighbour.

    Morocco are the current title-holders of CHAN, which is for players under the age of 23 who still play in African countries.

    The tournament starts on Friday and finishes on Feb. 4.

    The football authorities in Rabat had written to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to say Morocco would only take part if its team could take a direct flight to Algeria with Royal Air Maroc.

    Morocco’s senior national team last month became the first from an African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, raising the global profile of Moroccan football.

    Algeria and Morocco are at odds over a range of issues, including the future of Western Sahara, a territory Morocco regards as its own but where Algeria backs an armed independence movement.

  • Gattuso on Morocco star: I saw a player like me at World Cup

    Gattuso on Morocco star: I saw a player like me at World Cup

    AC Milan legend Rino Gattuso has sung praises of Morocco World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat.

    The Valencia coach admits he was left excited by the Fiorentina midfielder’s impact in Qatar.

    Gattuso told AS: “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a player like me, but I saw him at the World Cup: Amrabat. He moved me a lot, he looked like me when I was playing at 27. Life was so much better when I was playing, as a manager you just don’t have that.

    “I have to thank my wife, I don’t know how she is still with me, but somehow I have to change, because you can’t spend 18 or 19 hours thinking about football.”

    Of his playing days, Gattuso said: “I ran a lot and tactically I was very strong but surely in modern football I would be missing something. I had character, but the way I like to play, having character is not enough. Now I see football in a totally different way compared to when I was playing.

    “If you look at the Milan or Napoli games when I was there, we didn’t press in attack. It’s the first year I’ve done that in Valencia.”

  • Achraf Hakimi apologises to FIFA president Infantino

    Achraf Hakimi apologises to FIFA president Infantino

    Paris Saint-Gernain fullback Achraf Hakimi has apologised to Gianni Infantino following his confrontation with the FIFA president.

    The Morocco full-back reportedly questioned Infantino on the level of officiating at the World Cup following the Atlas Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Croatia in the third-place play-off.

    Walid Regragui’s side had a penalty appeal turned down against the 2018 runners-up when they felt that Youssef En-Nesyri’s header struck Bruno Petkovic’s hand, while Ibrahima Konaté’s challenge on Sofiane Boufal also went unpunished in the semi-final defeat to France. A replay showed that the ball had in fact hit Petkovic’s back.

    But Hakimi, who also confronted Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, has since had second thoughts and expressed remorse over the incident.

    The former Real Madrid fullback admitted that he let his frustration boil over.

    According to reports, the defender spoke to Infantino “politely but desperately” regarding those refereeing decisions as the president was waiting to hand Croatia their medals.

    “Nothing happened,” he told reporters. “I was angry after the end of the match. I went to talk to him, and I apologised for the words I said to him. He is my friend and I respect him a lot, so there’s nothing more to say.”