Morocco’s national team is eying history at the Qatar World Cup as the Portugal test awaits.
Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui has said that the national football team is looking to make history at the ongoing Qatar World Cup, as the Moroccan squad is set to lock horns with Portugal on Saturday evening.
“We want to go down in history … with the mindset we’ve had from the start, with the quality of our performance,” Regragui said at the Atlas Lions’ pre-match conference in Qatar.
Regragui added that he and the Atlas Lions’ are proud to have reached the World Cup’s quarter-finals for the first time in Morocco’s history.
He expressed his gratitude to the Arab and African people who have been offering their unwavering support and encouragement to the Moroccan national team, their only remaining representative in Qatar.
“You feel … on social media … the positive vibes,” the coach added, stressing that the national team has an entire continent behind their back, in addition to the support of the Arab World.
Morocco’s quarter-finals game against the star-filled Portugal team will kick off by 4 pm at the Al Thumama Stadium.
“Football is perhaps one of the sports where everything is possible,” Regragui said in response to statistics and predictions that suggested that Morocco was not going to make it past the tournament’s group stage.
“The [Moroccan] players are hungry … Do not believe that we are satisfied to just be in the quarter-finals,” Regragui stressed, adding that his players will give their all during today’s match as they want to have no regrets.
In addition, Regragui emphasized the importance of having African representation at the tournament, highlighting the skills and expertise of African coaches and players. “We want to show that Africa is present … that Morocco is present,” he said.
Speaking during the press conference, Moroccan goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti said that he is full of hope that Morocco will become the first Arab and African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Following its historic victory over Spain, Morocco has become the first Arab-speaking country and the fourth African country to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Support for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming match against Portugal will not only come from Moroccans but also from Arabs and Africans worldwide, with a surge in ticket sales that have exceeded expectations ahead of the game.
According to the ticket marketplace, Ticombo only has 364 tickets left for Morocco vs Portugal match. Morocco’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has also launched a new programme of special flights for Moroccan supporters travelling to Doha to cheer on the Atlas Lions in their upcoming match
Morocco will face Portugal later today as part of the World Cup’s quarter-final at 16:00 Moroccan time.
Hopes are high for the Atlas Lions as their journey in the World Cup so far has been marked by a series of victories starting with a win over both Belgium (2-0) and Canada (2-1), and a penalty shootout victory over Spain (3-0). The team’s first match was neither a win nor a loss ending the game against Croatia 0-0.
This year’s FIFA World Cup has witnessed unprecedented waves of Arab support and unity.
“What unites us is greater than what divides us. We are one big tribe and the Earth is our tent. Together we can make the call for everyone to unite,” said Morgan Freeman at the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony.