TheNewsGuru

Tag: Morocco

  • BREAKING: Egypt beat Morocco to setup 2021 AFCON semi final tie against Cameroon

    BREAKING: Egypt beat Morocco to setup 2021 AFCON semi final tie against Cameroon

    Egypt on Sunday beat Morocco to reach the semi finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the win means Egypt will now battle it out with host Cameroon for a slot at the final.

    Egypt beat Morocco by 2 goals to 1 in the Sunday’s encounter with a goal and assist by Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah.

    Salah scored one goal and set up the other as Egypt beat Morocco in extra time in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

    Sofiane Boufal had given Morocco an early lead with a penalty after Ayman Ashraf caught Achraf Hakimi, a decision given by the video assistant referee.

    But Salah tapped in an equaliser after Yassine Bounou parried a header and the game went to extra time.

    At extra time, Salah squared for Aston Villa’s Trezeguet to tap in the winner.

    Carlos Queiroz’s side will face hosts Cameroon in Thursday’s semi-final.

  • Hakimi stunner sends Morocco through to AFCON quarter-finals

    Hakimi stunner sends Morocco through to AFCON quarter-finals

    Morocco booked their place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals on Tuesday as Achraf Hakimi’s stunning free-kick sealed a 2-1 win over Malawi in Yaounde, Cameroon.

    The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) full-back struck 20 minutes from time at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo after Youssef En-Nesyri cancelled out Gabadinho Mhango’s magnificent early effort.

    After scraping through Group B in third-place, Malawi were making their first appearance in the AFCON knockout stages.

    The Flames took a surprise lead in the seventh minute, Mhango catching Yassine Bounou off his line with a wonderful 40-yard lob.

    Morocco had only lost one of their previous 11 games when facing an opponent in the competition for the first time.

    Vahid Halilhodzic’s side equalised in first-half stoppage time as En-Nesyri headed home from Selim Amallah’s deep cross.

    The contest looked possibly set for extra time until Hakimi emphatically beat Charles Thomu from 30 yards to send his nation through to the last eight.

    In the quarter-finals, Morocco will face either Côte d’Ivoire or Egypt.

  • Morocco coach blasts Barca over AFCON tournament

    Morocco coach blasts Barca over AFCON tournament

    Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has hit out at Barcelona over the handling of the Ez Abde situation.

    Before it broke that Abde was prepared to commit to Spain over Morocco, Halilhodzic spoke of the controversy yesterday.

    He said, “Barça is being the problem, they do not respect enough the African Cup of Nations.

    “They, as well as the big European clubs and FIFA do not respect the tournament enough.”

    Halihodzic also said: “Abde never rejected the national team and I am convinced that he will appear for the squad next Monday, January 3. We are counting on him because we need him.”

  • Morocco bans New Year’s parties over COVID-19 scare

    Morocco bans New Year’s parties over COVID-19 scare

     

    Morocco on Monday announced a ban on New Year’s Eve celebrations as part of stepped-up measures against rising coronavirus cases.

    The government mandated a ban on all forms of celebration on the evening of New Year’s eve, including parties in hotels and tourist sites.

    It ordered restaurants and cafes to close at 11.30 pm and said a curfew would be in place from midnight until 6:00 AM on January 1.

    Morocco on December 15 detected its first case of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.

    After a partial reopening of borders, it is to close them again from Thursday to rein in the spread of the highly infectious variant.

    Authorities will, however, organise special repatriation flights for expatriates stranded in the country.

  • I should’ve dumped Ziyech sooner – Morocco coach

    I should’ve dumped Ziyech sooner – Morocco coach

    Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has explained again omitting Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech from his latest squad.

    Halilhodzic dumped Ziyech last month citing attitude problems, an accusation which saw the midfielder fire back at the Morocco boss.

    “Honestly, I regret that I didn’t make this decision sooner,” said Halilhodzic. “It is not one case of ill-discipline. We tried to talk to him, but you have to draw the line somewhere. It’s sad, it’s a mess, but also a shame.

    “Ziyech has reached various limits. It is not one case, but an accumulation.

    “After a while you just have to put a stop to that.”

  • Morocco beat Sudan as Algeria score 8 against Djibouti

    Morocco beat Sudan as Algeria score 8 against Djibouti

    Reigning African champions Algeria got off to a perfect start in Group A of the 2022 FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers by defeating Djibouti 8-0 in Blida on Thursday night.

    Also, Morocco defeated visitors Sudan 2-0 in Rabat to top Group I.

    Islam Slimani’s four goals guided Les Fennecs to a clear win at Moustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida, while visitors Djibouti had to play with 10 men for almost 70 minutes.

    This was after Youssof Batio was shown the red card in the 25th minute.

    Slimani’s goals on the night made him go just one goal behind Algeria’s all-time top scorer Abdelhafid Tasfaout with 36 goals.

    The Algerian festival started as early as the fifth minute, when Riyad Mahrez’s cross from the right side found Slimani’s head past visiting goalkeeper Mbounihamkuye Innocent.

    Twenty minutes later, Batio touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area, for the marching orders and Slimani to complete his brace.

    Just a minute later, Ramy Bensebaini took advantage of Youcef Belaili’s cross to make it 3-0.

    Djamel Belmadi’s players did not stop there and were still pushing, leaving no chance for their opponents.

    Bensebaini was fouled inside the penalty area five minutes from the break, and this time Baghdad Bounedjah scored from the penalty kick spot as the first half ended 4-0 for the hosts.

    After the break, Slimani added two more goals in quick succession (47th and 53rd), before Mahrez added his name to the night’s scorers’ list seven minutes after the hour mark.

    In spite of being 7-0 up, the Algerians continued to press, and a couple of minutes later Ramiz Zerrouki scored his first international goal to complete the rout.

    It was a good start for the Algerians who now lead Group A on goal difference from Burkina Faso, their next opponents.

    In Rabat, Morocco scored in each half to beat Sudan 2-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.

    Vahid Halilhodzic men started the game on a high note, and took the lead after 10 minutes through Naif Aguerd.

    The Rennes centre-back took advantage of the Sudanese defence’s hesitation to send a sharp shot in the net.

    The Atlas Lions dominated the game, but failed to add more goals before the break.

    Eight minutes into the second half, Abuaagla Abdalla deflected the ball with a header into his own net to double Morocco’s lead.

    Morocco lead Group I on three points, and will face Guinea who earlier had a 1-1 draw with Guinea-Bissau on Monday.

  • Why I dropped Hakim Ziyech – Morocco coach

    Why I dropped Hakim Ziyech – Morocco coach

    Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic says he dropped Hakim Ziyech due to the Chelsea winger’s unacceptable behaviour when he was on international duty in June.

    Ziyech was left out of Morocco’s squad for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Sudan on Thursday and Guinea next Monday.

    The 28-year-old came off the bench in a 1-0 friendly win over Ghana three months ago before starting in a victory by the same scoreline against Burkina Faso.

    Halilhodzic has explained he dropped the former Ajax man due to his conduct the last time he was called up.

    “His behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player who as a leader in the team has to be a positive role model,” Halilhodzic said.

    “He arrived late and, after that, he even refused to work. There was no point in discussing it afterwards, as a coach the answer is right there to see. For me, the national team is above everything, nobody can hold it hostage.”

    Halilhodzic said Ziyech refused to play against Ghana, saying he was not fully fit, and did not want to come off the bench.

    He added: “For the first time in my coaching career, I have seen behaviour that disappoints me. A player who refuses to play a game, admittedly a friendly, on the pretext that he is injured.

    “The medical staff made several examinations and said he could play. He then refused to warm up in the second half because he was disappointed to be a substitute. For me, that type of behaviour is unacceptable.

    “You can’t cheat with the national team. You are 100 per cent there or you are not.”

    Former Morocco coach, Herve Renard, left Ziyech out of his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2017.

    Ziyech stated that he would not play for his country while Renard was in charge, but returned in September 2017 to win a first cap for almost a year.

  • Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with ‘hostile’ Morocco

    Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with ‘hostile’ Morocco

    Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Tuesday that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Morocco due to “hostile actions”, following months of resurgent tensions between the North African rivals.

    The countries have long accused one another of backing opposition movements as proxies, with Algeria’s support for separatists in the disputed region of Western Sahara a particular bone of contention for Morocco.

    “Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco from today,” Lamamra announced during a press conference.

    “History has shown… Morocco has never stopped carrying out hostile actions against Algeria,” he added.

    There was no immediate reaction from Rabat to the announcement.

    Algiers’s move came following a review of bilateral relations announced last week as it alleged Rabat was complicit in deadly forest fires that ravaged the country’s north.

    Lamamra accused Morocco’s leaders of “responsibility for repeated crises” and behaviour that has “led to conflict instead of integration” in North Africa.

    Late last month, Morocco’s King Mohamed VI deplored the tensions between the two countries, and invited Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune “to make wisdom prevail” and “to work in unison for the development of relations” between the two countries.

    But Algeria’s forest fires, which broke out on August 9 amid a blistering heatwave, burned tens of thousands of hectares of forest and killed at least 90 people, including more than 30 soldiers, further stoking tensions.

    While critics say Algerian authorities failed to prepare for the blazes, Tebboune declared most of the fires were of “criminal” origin.

    Algerian authorities have blamed the independence movement of the mainly Berber region of Kabylie extending along the Mediterranean coast east of the capital.

    Algiers has accused Rabat of backing the separatists.

    “The Moroccan provocation reached its climax when a Moroccan delegate to the United Nations demanded the independence of the people of the Kabylie region,” Lamamra said Tuesday.

    Last month, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Rabat for consultations after Morocco’s envoy to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, expressed support for self-determination in that region.

    At the time, Algeria’s foreign ministry said Morocco thus “publicly and explicitly supports an alleged right to self-determination of the Kabylie people”.

    Algerian authorities have also accused the Movement for Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK) of involvement in lynching a man falsely accused of arson during the recent forest fires, an incident that sparked outrage.

    Algeria last week accused Morocco of supporting the group, which it classifies as a “terrorist organisation”.

  • Moroccans to officiate at AFCON Qualifier between Nigeria and Benin

    Moroccans to officiate at AFCON Qualifier between Nigeria and Benin

    CAF has appointed Moroccan officials to officiate at Saturday’s crucial 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, stated on Friday that 42-year-old Rédouane Jiyed, an international referee since 2009 and currently one of the highest-rated referees in Africa would be the centre referee.

    “He will be assisted by Lahsen Azgaou (Assistant Referee 1), Mostafa Akarkad (Assistant Referee 2) and Samir Guezzaz (fourth official) – all Moroccans.

    “The Match Commissioner is Yameogo David and Ghanaian Julius Ben Emunah is the Security Officer,’’ he added.

    The statement also said that Nigeria’s contingent hit the tiny West African nation with much buzz, glitz and glitter on Friday, arriving at the Porto Novo Port in half a dozen boats across the waterways from Lekki, Lagos.

    “Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic, led mission staff to await the delegation and then accompanied the team and officials to Cotonou, where the group is ensconced at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

    “The Super Eagles will ride by bus to Porto Novo on Saturday morning and return to the Golden Tulip after their clash with the Squirrels at the Stade Charles de Gaulle,’’ it said.

    Three-time champions, Nigeria could be sure of a 19th appearance at African football’s flagship tournament if Sierra Leone and Lesotho are locked in a stalemate in their early game in Maseru, Lesotho’s capital and largest city on Saturday.

    The Super Eagles are insisting on focusing on their own game and result rather than wait for help from one bumpy pitch in southern Africa.

    The Squirrels, who sensationally reached the quarter-finals of the last edition of AFCON in Egypt two years ago before losing to Tunisia (losers to Nigeria in the third-place match), had their last training session at the Stade Charles de Gaulle on Thursday.

    Coach Michel Dussuyer told reporters after the team’s training that his boys were ready to calmly collect the three points from better-fancied Nigeria.

    Dussuyer, 61, a former French professional footballer and well-travelled coach, is confident his Squirrels can sneak past the Super Eagles to top of the pool ahead of the last round of matches in a few days.

    He is banking on the power-play upfront of the hulking Michael Pote, the defensive competence of David Kiki, Yohan Roche, Khaled Adenon and Cedric Hountondji.

    The coach would also be relying on the midfield savvy of Anaane Tidjane, Jordan Adeoti and Rodrigue Kossi and the trio of Steve Mounie, Jacques Bessan and Jerome Bonou.

    Goalkeepers Saturnin Allagbe and Fabien Farnolle will contend for the number one spot. Allagbe was impressive at the AFCON in Egypt.

    The statement also said that officials of the Federation Beninoise de Football (FBF) were still awaiting official letter from CAF as at Friday evening on the number of persons that could be admitted at the Stade Charles de Gaulle.

    It added that as at lunchtime on Friday, they were still being told that only 200 persons could attend.

    “We are hoping for a favourable opinion on our letter requesting that we be allowed to have between 1,800 and 3,000 persons at the match,” an official of the FBF was quoted as saying.

    The match kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

  • Morocco suspends flights to and fro five additional countries

    Morocco suspends flights to and fro five additional countries

    Morocco said on Wednesday that it had suspended all flights to and from Mali, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, and Libya, to curb the spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) variants.

    The Moroccan National Airport Office (ONDA) disclosed this in a statement posted on its website.

    It added that the suspension was temporary, and would run until April 10.

    According to the office, the ban also concerns the entry of passengers of these countries arriving through other countries.

    Morocco has so far suspended air connections with 35 countries to curb the spread of the coronavirus and the more contagious COVID-19 variants.

    The North African country last week extended the state of health emergency to April 10, while a nationwide vaccination campaign is going on so as to reach herd immunity.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that as of Tuesday, the tally of COVID-19 infections in Morocco reached 492,403, with 8,775 deaths and 480,100 recoveries.

    Meanwhile, 4,265,196 people have received so far the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, and 2,593,204 people have received the second dose.

    Morocco launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China’s Sinopharm vaccines.