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Tag: Morocco

  • Continental victory: Leaders, Elon Musk, others hail Morocco for making Africa proud

    Continental victory: Leaders, Elon Musk, others hail Morocco for making Africa proud

     

    Sports stars, political leaders and celebrities took to social media on Saturday to congratulate Morocco for its World Cup quarter final win over Portugal, making it the first African or Arab team to reach the semi finals of the soccer tournament.

    Here are some of the reactions.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted congratulations to “the Atlas lions on their win today”.

    Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby said on Twitter: “Historic and extraordinary! The qualification of the Atlas Lions for the semi-final of the 2022 world is that of all Africa. Full support to the representatives of Africa for the grand finale. Africa world champion, yes it is possible inchallah!”

    “CONTINENTAL HISTORY!… What an achievement by the Atlas Lions,” the Confederation of African Football said in a tweet.

    Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa congratulated Moroccan King Mohammed VI on a “great international historic achievement”, according to state media.

    Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashed tweeted: “No voice is louder than Morocco’s in the World Cup!”

    “We share the joy of our brothers,” tweeted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

    “We rejoice when the Arabs rejoice,” said Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who hailed a “historic” victory. The two rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas each sent congratulations.

    Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah tweeted: “Congratulations to the Moroccan national team for their historic qualification to the World Cup semi-finals.”

    Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein tweeted: “The Atlas Lions are making history.”

    Egypt’s Foreign Ministry tweeted: “Sincere heartfelt congratulations to the brotherly kingdom of Morocco.”

    “They did it!!!! Well done Morocco for this feat. Long live Africa,” tweeted retired Ivorian player and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.

    Samuel Eto’o, the former Cameroon striker and current president of the country’s football federation, said on Twitter: “Incredible! …The entire continent is rooting for you” (with a clapping hands emoji)

    Pop star Shakira tweeted “This time for Africa!!” with a clapping emoji and a Moroccan flag.

    Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted:
    “Congrats Morocco.”

  • Qatar 2022: Morocco shocks Portugal, grabs semi-final ticket

    Qatar 2022: Morocco shocks Portugal, grabs semi-final ticket

    Morocco has qualified for the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup presently holding in Qatar following their slim margin win over Europe power football house Portugal in Al Thumama stadium.

    The Moroccan side had much of Africa and the Arab world behind them as they played their heart out to ensure they become first African side ever in the history of the World Cup to reach the last four of the Mundial.

    Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi have led a team that has only conceded one goal all tournament and it was an own goal conceded in the game against Canada.

    In the 42nd minute, Morocco Ounahi finds Attiyat-Allah down the left, he curls in a high cross, En-Nesyri leaps like a salmon, gets there first and nods into an empty net for the first and the only goal of the thrilling encounter.

    Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa,  came for the ball  but didn’t get it, leaving his goal exposed.

    High-profile forward Ronaldo, 37, was left in tears at the final whistle, as he stormed down the tunnel in the knowledge his last shot at the global title is almost certainly gone.

    The result meant that Morocco will play the winner of the match between France and England to anticipate playing in the final.

  • Talks of Morocco hero, Sofyan Amrabat moving to EPL heighten

    Talks of Morocco hero, Sofyan Amrabat moving to EPL heighten

    Talks of Morocco hero, Sofyan Amrabat moving to the English Premier League (EPL) have heightened after the North African country sent Spain packing out of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Amrabat’s agent, Mohammed Sinouh himself has not ruled out the possibility.

    Recall that the Fiorentina star had Spain’s midfield in his pocket when Morocco sent the European side out of the World Cup.

    It would be their first-ever victory over La Roja on Tuesday night after they knocked them out of the World Cup on penalties. It is also their first-ever time reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.

    Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano disclosed following the encounter that Sinouh has talked about the Fiorentina star player moving to the EPL.

    “Amrabat’s agent Mohammed Sinouh tells me on Premier League links: “Of course, I get a lot of phone calls for Sofyan. The whole world has seen he’s the best holding midfielder of the World Cup”,” Romano tweeted.

    However, Amrabat’s agent said the Italian Serie A star is focused on World Cup with Morocco at the moment.

    Recall Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp met with the entourage of Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat before the World Cup.

    Another meeting, TNG learnt, is scheduled after the tournament, with Tottenham and Inter Milan also interested in the Moroccan midfielder.

  • BREAKING: Morocco send Spain out of Qatar 2022

    BREAKING: Morocco send Spain out of Qatar 2022

    Morocco beat Spain on penalties to qualify for the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar after a goalless draw.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Achraf Hakimi was the hero with a chipped penalty, qualifying Morocco for the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the very first time.

    Stuck in their third for most of the game, they went close through Aguerd in the first half before surviving an onslaught.

    Having just one shot in the second half, Bounou pushed away Olmo’s powerful effort before Morata missed the target with a header.

    In extra time, Simon made a point-blank save from Cheddira before Sarabia hit the post with the final kick to send the match to penalties.

    Spain faltered from the spot, failing to score any of their three penalties. Sarabia hit the post with Bounou saving spot-kicks from Soler and Busquets.

    Morocco were cool from 12 yards. Simon saved Benoun’s effort, but composed strikes from Sabiri and Ziyech, and a chip from Hakimi sent Regragui’s side through.

    Morocco are now undefeated in their last five games in the World Cup and will now play either Switzerland or Portugal in the quarter-finals.

  • Qatar 2022: Belgium out, Morocco, Croatia qualify for second round

    Qatar 2022: Belgium out, Morocco, Croatia qualify for second round

    The Atlas Lions of Morocco put up a good showing after defeating Canada by 2-1 in the last group F encounter played  today at the Al Thumama Stadium.

    The Moroccans topped a group which included two of the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.

    They become the second African country to secure second round passage after the Teranga Lions of Senegal did on Tuesday.

    Hakim Ziyech pounced on a loose ball after an howler from the goalie of Canada in the 4th minute of the encounter before Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the 23rd minute to double the North Africans lead.

    Meanwhile, Nayef Aguerd scored an own goal to give Canada a goal in the encounter.

    Canada bows out of the tournament after failing to record a victory, but will take some lessons away as they begin their long journey back home.

    However, two European power horse Belgium and Croatia settled for a 0-0 draw in the other group F encounter.

    Belgium needed an outright win to revive hopes of qualification while Croatia needed just a point to make it.

    In the end the 0-0 result favoured Croatia as they progress into the second round of the competition.

    Morocco and Croatia make it out of the group F.

    As for Morocco and Croatia they will now have to wait upon the final results of Group E to see who their opponents will be in the round of 16.

  • Qatar 2022: We attack badly because we are too old – Vertonghen fires De Bruyne, Hazard

    Qatar 2022: We attack badly because we are too old – Vertonghen fires De Bruyne, Hazard

    Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen has said his teammates are too old to attack in their World Cup defeat to Morocco in Qatar.

    After second-half goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal condemned Belgium to defeat, leaving them requiring at least a point from their final group match against Croatia to reach the knockout stages, 35-year-old Vertonghen appeared to reference De Bruyne’s controversial interview.

    He said: “In the end we conceded two identical goals on the set piece, twice at the near post. Balls that should never go in.

    “The first time we got away well (disallowed for offside), the second time not anymore.

    “There’s so much going through my mind right now, things I shouldn’t say in the open air. I don’t think we created any chances. Where did it go wrong?

    “We probably also attack badly because we are too old, that must be it now, surely? We have a lot of quality up front, but so does Morocco, and they came out better today. This is very frustrating.”

  • Qatar 2022: Morocco put two goals past Belgium, go top of group F

    Qatar 2022: Morocco put two goals past Belgium, go top of group F

    Morocco needed a win to boost their chances of making it to the next round of the Mundial,  although it initially seemed very difficult but the North Africans secured their first win in Qatar against the highly rated Belgian national team.

    Morocco left it late but defeated the second best team in the world according to FIFA ranking by 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.

    It was an outstanding result for Morocco as it won  its third-ever match at a World Cup – one which sends it top of Group F after two games.

    The North African nation had only previously claimed victories against Portugal in 1986 and Scotland in 1998, but this win against the No. 2-ranked country in the world is surely the best of the bunch.

    Abdelhamid Sabiri’s goal set off Moroccan celebrations in the 75th minute, but Zakaria Aboukhlal put the cherry on top of a historic win in injury time.

    There are also some connections between the two teams as the Morocco squad includes four players — Ilias Chair, Anass Zaroury, Selim Amallah and Bilal El Khannous — who were born in Belgium.

    But just before the match, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui had urged those with connections to Belgium to remain focused on the task at hand.

    “For any dual national … they have a special emotion and that’s a positive energy and you have to draw on that,” Regragui told reporters, per Reuters.

    “But it is a match that we need to win (irrespective) of who we are playing. We have to focus on that.

    “We know that this is a special match for them, but we have to put that into context. You cannot get too emotional because that could lead you to make mistakes. And that could be very expensive for us.”

    Morocco awaits the encounter between Canada and Croatia to know who would eventually top group F going into the last game of the group phase,

  • Qatar 2022: Hakimi, Modric fire blanks as Morocco, Croatia settle for a goalless draw

    Qatar 2022: Hakimi, Modric fire blanks as Morocco, Croatia settle for a goalless draw

    After seeing Senegal lose 2-0 to the Netherlands on Monday in a group A  encounter, Denmark and Tunisia also ending it in a  draw,  another African country Morocco has also settled for a draw with Croatia in their opening game at the Mundial.

    In the early minute  of the encounter, Luka Modric of Croatia was seen pulling the strings but the effort failed to yield any meaningful result.

    On the 15th-minute mark, Hakim Ziyech cut in from the right but saw his shot blocked before Achraf Hakimi sent a teasing low cross into the arms of Croatia’s keeper Dominik Livakovic.

    Just before halftime Hakim Ziyech has a golden opportunity to open the scoring after Luka Modric is penalized around 20-yards out, but he sends his free-kick straight into the wall.

    Upon resumption of the second half both teams tried all they could but the two goalkeepers kept pulling great saves to deny attackers of opposing side a goal.

    Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric went close for Croatia. Noussair Mazraoui went close with a second-half header for Morocco but injured himself in the process and was subsequently stretchered off.

    It ended goalless at the the end of 90 minute plus added time in Qatar.

     

  • Hundreds of Moroccans protest against high cost of living

    Hundreds of Moroccans protest against high cost of living

    Hundreds of Moroccans on Sunday stormed the streets of Rabat  to protest against the high cost of living in the North African country.

    The protest was organized by the country’s main trade union, the UNTM, which is close to the Justice and Development Party on Sunday in Rabat the state capital.

    The rally, outside parliament and witnessed by AFP journalists, came after several protests already this week in Rabat and other Moroccan cities.

    The PJD was routed in legislative elections in September 2021, when the liberal RNI party — led by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch — performed well.

    “Prices are rising and the government is asleep!” protesters chanted, before dispersing peacefully after about 90 minutes.

    Consumer price inflation was 8.3 percent year-on-year in September, due in large part to surging food prices, which were up 14.7 percent.

    Fuel prices have also risen sharply, making Akhannouch a particular target of ire, given that he is a billionaire local oil distribution baron.

  • Morocco, Algeria set to submit bids to host 2025 AFCON

    Morocco, Algeria set to submit bids to host 2025 AFCON

    North African countries of  Algeria and Morocco are competing with Nigeria and Republic du Benin’s joint bid for the hosting right of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, (AFCON) tournament.

    Recall that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday that it has withdrawn the hosting right of the competition from Guinea Conakry.

    CAF took the decision due to the country’s lack of quality infrastructure and facilities to host the 24-team competition.

    Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation,  (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick, had earlier mentioned a joint bid from Nigeria and its neighbour Republic du Benin for the 2025 AFCON.

    However, thay  now face stiff competition from the two North African giants who already boast of well equipped facilities for the hosting of the tournament.

    Algerian Football Federation, Zefizef Djahid has already confirmed that his country will submit a bid to host the competition.

    “Algeria has all the capabilities to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations,” Djahid told Egyptian club, Kingfut.com.

    Morocco is expected to submit a bid to host the competition in the coming days.

    Algeria has been given the nod to host the 2023 CHAN tournament for home based African footballers.

    The competition will be held in January 2023 in four Algerian cities.

    Morocco hosted the 2022 female AFCON and it was largely a big success.