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Morocco’s historic cruise into World Cup knock-out stage after 36 years

Another upset in the FIFA World Cup, Morocco beat Belgium 2-0

The Chelsea winger, who provided the spark for a number of his team’s advances throughout the tournament, gave the Morrocans the early lead…reports Armstrong Vaz

Morocco became the second African country to make it to the knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after their 2-1 win over Canada in the Group F encounter on Thursday evening at Al Thumama Stadium.

The North Africans, who were backed by vociferous supporters, took an early lead to keep themselves on course for a place in the last 16 and join the other qualified team from Africa Senegal in the knockout phase of the tournament after emerging as winners in their group.

For Morocco, this is only the second time they are making it to the knockout stage since 1986 in Mexico when they defeated Portugal 3-1 on their way to the knockout stage.

The Atlas Lions started their Qatar campaign with a 0-0 draw against the 2018 finalists Croatia and added another feather in the cap by defeating World No.2 Belgium 2-0 a few days ago. With Thursday’s win, their second in the group, they finished with seven points and topped the group and will take on the runners-up in Group E, which contains Costa Rica, Germany, Japan and Spain, in the last 16.

The winners and runner-up from Group E will be spotted in Thursday’s late matches.

Croatia finished second in the group with one win and two draws, collecting five points. But the disappointment of the tournament were Belgium as they ended up only having four points from three matches, winning one, losing one and drawing one game and crashing out of the tournament.

On Thursday, a huge blunder from goalkeeper Milan Borjan cost Canada an early goal. Man of the Match in the Belgium game, Hakim Ziyech was once again on the spot to find the net.

The Chelsea winger, who provided the spark for a number of his team’s advances throughout the tournament, gave the Morrocans the early lead.

After receiving the ball just outside of the box in Canada’s half, defender Steven Vitoria sent in a rather casual pass to the goalkeeper. However, the defender failed to see the advancing attacker behind and Borjan was forced to dispatch the ball quickly. Undoubtedly panicked, the goalkeeper cleared the ball straight to Ziyech, who spotted the open goal and sent in a lovely chip which created enough distance to beat the keeper as he rushed back to the net.

A goal in the very fourth minute, a horrid start for Canada from which they tried to fight back with The Reds looking to be in damage-control mode as Morocco smelt blood after taking the lead.

The Atlas Lions continued their high press and did well to keep to their lines and break down any attacks, while also having the flexibility to spring the occasional counter when play allowed.

There was a thunderous roar that echoed across Al Thumama Stadium as Morocco consolidated the lead with En-Nesyri adding his name to the scorer’s list in the 23rd minute.

After receiving a long ball on the right side from near the halfway line, En-Nesyri, who was hounded by two defenders, was able to make a beeline for the net, his powerful shot at the near post beat the left hand of Borjan as Morocco double their advantage.

With their objective rather clear, Canada continued to hunt for opportunities to advance up the pitch.

After the two blows, Canada were keener on instigating more attacks, but their long-ball tactics did not yield success.

Morocco on the other hand seem to have worked out their defensive scheme as they continue to spot gaps between the lines to try and applied pressure.

Canada got a new lease of life with an own goal with five minutes to go for the first-half whistle. After picking up the ball on the far left, Sam Adekugbe fired in a cross into the box. The ball, however, grazed the outstretched right leg of Nayef Aguerd, with the resulting deflection beating Yassine Bounou at the near post to find the net, 2-1.

In the second half, Canada kept their attacking and stepped up the pressure with the Moroccan defense suffering some anxious moments.

Canada came close to drawing level midway in the second half when Atiba Hutchinson’s effort came off the crossbar from the centre of the box with Junior Hoilett having set up Hutchinson with a cross following a corner in the 71st minute.

Thereafter, Canada tried to score more goals but Morocco held on to register a deserving win and move into the knockout stage.

ALSO READ-Japan, Spain advance as Germany knocked out of FIFA World Cup 2022

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Africa News Sports

Morocco stun Belgium to claim long-awaited World Cup win

The win, their first in 24 years, sends Morocco into first place in the group with four points after having drawn goalless with 2018 runner-up Croatia, who take on Canada in the last match on Sunday…reports Asian Lite News

In a FIFA World Cup which is turning up to be a bagful of surprises, it was the turn of Morocco to upset World No.2 side Belgium 2-0 in the Group F match of the football showpiece event at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday evening.

After a barren first half, substitutes Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal did the trick for Morocco, scoring in the 73rd minute and in the second minute of stoppage time.

For coach Walid Regragui, who took charge of Morocco in September, the match against Belgium was his sixth in charge and till now they have kept clean-sheets in all six games with him at the helm of affairs.

This is Morocco’s finest World Cup moment as Atlas Lions scripted their third-ever win at a World Cup and stand a great chance to qualify for the knockout stage. For Morocco, ranked 22, the two other World Cup wins came in 1998 when they trounced Scotland 3-0 and in 1986 they stunned the football world with a 3-1 win over Portugal and qualified for the knockout stage. The North Africans have not reached the knockout rounds since 1986.

The win, their first in 24 years, sends Morocco into first place in the group with four points after having drawn goalless with 2018 runner-up Croatia, who take on Canada in the last match on Sunday.

Belgium, who were far from impressive in their first match of the group, which they won 1-0 against Canada, have three points from two matches and next face Croatia,

Morocco beating Belgium is the third major upset of the championship which is into its eighth day.

In the earlier matches, Argentina ranked third on the FIFA computer had crashed to a 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia ranked 51, while World No.11 Germany had lost by an identical score to Japan, who are ranked 13 places below the Germans.

Morocco had to make a last-minute change to their starting XI when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou pulled out after the anthems — for reasons not yet specified — and was replaced by Monir El Kajoui. The understudy made an early save to settle any nerves when smothering an attempt by Michy Batshuayi at close range.

Morocco had the majority of the crowd at Al Thumama Stadium on their side and they thought they had given them a goal to celebrate in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Hakim Ziyech whipped in a free-kick from wide on the right that beat Thibaut Courtois at his near post.

However, Romain Saiss, standing right in front of the goalkeeper, was ruled offside after a VAR check.

Before that, Belgium had had another scare 10 minutes after the break when Sofiane Boufal cut in from the left and shot just past the far post. The Red Devils’ reprieve would be brief, however, as they fell to their first loss in the group stage of the World Cup since Saudi Arabia beat them at USA 94.

Sabiri’s introduction after 68 minutes was his cue to spark arguably Morocco’s greatest World Cup victory. He still has not started a game for his country in a World Cup but took just five minutes to score the most important goal of his life, on what was his fourth international outing, whipping in a free-kick from a position wide on the left, just a metre or two from the touchline into the near post and beating Courtois, who has come off his line ready to try and take the cross.

Roberto Martinez’s 2018 semifinalists fell again this time in stoppage time. El Kajoui’s long goal-kick was headed back towards his own goal by a Belgian defender.

Ziyech seized upon the loose ball, swerved away from Timothy Castagne and cut the ball back toward Aboukhlal at the near post. He sorted his feet out beautifully and clipped a first-time shot into the roof of the net.

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said the first goal affected their composure.

“It’s a difficult result because the first goal affected the outcome a lot. It’s a dead-ball situation, we couldn’t get our game going and it’s a game that we need to understand. We need to be together and react in the next game. That’s what happens in the World Cup.

“The way we defended the goal is the way we have been defending free-kicks for six years, that’s not the issue. It’s a good ball in, it’s nothing to do with the setup.

“I think we had good moments but we couldn’t get clear-cut chances, we only had a couple of half opportunities and if you allow that goal to be conceded then it changes the game radically.

“At the moment we conceded the goal we lost our composure too much and we couldn’t get ourselves back in the final third with more thought,” he added.

Morocco thoroughly deserved their victory. Their game plan worked and they hit Belgium on the break.

The substitutes scored the goals, rewarded for a second-half performance full of purpose, style and intensity. Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech were also terrific, and the defence — which still hasn’t conceded a goal under Regragui — restricted Belgium to only one decent chance.

ALSO READ-IPL 2022 final enters Guinness World Record

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-Top News Africa News India News

India-Morocco bilateral ties get an impetus  

Secretary (CPV&OIA) also interacted with Moroccan ITEC alumni as well as the Indian community and Indian business leaders…reports Asian Lite News

The friendly bilateral relations between India and Morocco received a further impetus with the recent visit of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary Ausaf Sayeed.

During the visit from November 22-25, Secretary (CPV&OIA) Ausaf Sayeed co-chaired the India-Morocco Foreign Office Consultations and held bilateral meetings during which the two sides resolved to further expand & strengthen bilateral partnership in different domains.

Sayeed also represented India at the 9th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), which took place in Fez on November 22–23.

The Secretary (CPV&OIA) met with Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali in Rabat to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of fertilizers, renewable energy, climate change, the MEA said.

He co-chaired the fifth round of India-Morocco Foreign Office Consultations, during which a wide variety of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest were discussed.

Secretary (CPV&OIA) also interacted with Moroccan ITEC alumni as well as the Indian community and Indian business leaders.

According to the MEA, “the visit provided further impetus to the bilateral friendly relations between the two countries the two countries”.

India and Morocco are now experiencing record-breaking levels of bilateral trade (USD 3.2 billion in 2021-22). About 40 Indian companies in diverse sectors are operating in Morocco.

A sizeable number of candidates from Morocco have been benefiting from India’s capacity building programmes, including ITEC. Both sides are keen to enhance the level of economic engagement and people to people exchanges, the MEA added.

“Secretary (CPV & OIA) @drausaf co-chaired 5th India-Morocco Foreign Office Consultations in Rabat. Both sides resolved to further expand & strengthen bilateral partnership in different domains,” Indian Embassy in Morocco said in a tweet.

Earlier in September, Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Zineb El Adaoui, the first President of the Court of Accounts, Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the supreme auditing bodies of the two countries. Both sides agreed to conduct training programmes in their respective countries and explore other means of capacity development support.

For long, India has been one of the major markets for Moroccan phosphates and its derivatives. India’s export basket to Morocco has also grown significantly in recent years.

The main items of India’s exports to Morocco are cotton yarn, synthetic fibre, chemicals, manufactured metals, machinery and instrument, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and spices.

Main items of Moroccan export to India are phosphoric acid, phosphate, metallic ores and metal spray and inorganic chemicals.

Relations between India and Morocco go back to the 14th century when the famous traveller and writer from Tangier, Ibn Batuta, travelled to India. In modern history, India was active in the UN supporting the Moroccan freedom movement and recognised Morocco on June 20, 1956 immediately after its independence. Diplomatic relations were established in 1957.

ALSO READ-Saudi, Morocco cement trade ties

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-Top News Arab News UAE News

Bin Touq leads delegation on visit to Morocco

The cooperation sectors are scheduled to be discussed during this visit, as they are the key drivers of the development of the two countries’ relations in the next phase…reports Asian Lite News

A high-level UAE delegation headed by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, will be visiting the Kingdom of Morocco to explore prospects for enhanced cooperation in the next phase.

The meetings will also help explore promising investment opportunities in the markets of the two countries and strengthen them during the next phase, ensuring growth and prosperity for the people of the two fraternal countries.

The visit aims to promote cooperation between the business communities of the two countries and motivate the private sector and entrepreneurs to contribute further to the development of the trade and economic partnership between the UAE and Morocco.

In addition, the visit will see meetings with a number of Moroccan ministers, senior government officials, and representatives of the private sector, apart from an interactive session on future investment opportunities, organised by the ‘Investopia’ summit.

The session will bring together a number of companies, businesspersons, investors, entrepreneurs, and SMEs from the two countries to learn about new opportunities for building development and sustainable partnerships.

These will help elevate the strategic relations between the two countries to higher levels of cooperation and integration, as well as utilise Investopia’s global experience in the development of economic and commercial sectors in Morocco.

The cooperation sectors are scheduled to be discussed during this visit, as they are the key drivers of the development of the two countries’ relations in the next phase. These sectors primarily include energy and renewable energy, industry, trade, and mining, tourism and infrastructure, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), food security, transport and logistics, agricultural technology, entrepreneurship, and other sectors supporting the future economy.

ALSO READ:India, UAE to boost cooperation in industries, advanced tech

Furthermore, Saeed Ahmed Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the UAE to the Kingdom of Morocco, will be attending the delegation’s meetings there.

he visiting UAE delegation comprises several government entities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and the UAE International Investors Council; along with representatives of a number of private sector institutions and investment companies in the country. These include Sharaf Group, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar), LIFCO, and Global Jet Technic.

The UAE-Morocco non-oil trade reached AED3.1 billion in 2021, achieving a 44 percent growth compared to 2020.

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World World News

World Bank To Support Morocco

World Bank To Support Morocco

World Bank approves 350-mln-USD loan to spur Morocco’s blue economy

 The World Bank announced Tuesday the approval of a 350-million-U.S. dollar loan to support Morocco launching a blue economy program.

The Blue Economy Program for Results aims to create more economic growth and employment while improving the sustainability and resilience of natural resources and food security, the World Bank office in Morocco said in a statement.

The program comprises two parts, one of which helps to form coordinated institutional frameworks and the other focuses on investment in key blue sector activities, it added.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco boasts the strong potential to develop a blue economy, with coastal areas already contributing to more than 50 percent of its gross domestic product and jobs, said the World Bank.

It added that there is more untapped potential in both existing and emerging blue sectors in Morocco, like aquaculture, seaweed farming, and renewable marine energy.

Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut Morocco’s 2022 economic growth forecast to 1.1 percent, down from the previous estimate of 3 percent.

The updated forecast is based on a sharp drop in agricultural output as the North African country suffered its worst drought in decades in 2022, and the fallout from Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday.

Morocco’s GDP will expand by 4.6 percent in 2023, according to the report.

Morocco’s inflation is predicted to hit 4.4 percent this year before decreasing to 2.3 percent in 2023, according to the IMF.

The Moroccan government will lower its GDP growth forecast for 2022 from 3.2 percent in the budget law to an average of 1.5 percent to 1.7 percent, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch told a parliamentary session hearing on Monday.

ALSO READ: UAE, Germany discuss global energy, food security

In another development, military leaders from Morocco and Mauritania on Tuesday vowed to boost military cooperation between the two countries.

Moroccan Minister in charge of the National Defense Administration Abdeltif Loudyi and Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) Belkhir El Farouk met with El Mokhtar Bolle Chaabane, the chief of General Staff of the Mauritanian Armed Forces, for an in-depth discussion on military cooperation, the FAR said in a statement.

The two sides underlined the need to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and exchange expertise in order to address security concerns such as illegal migration and trafficking, the statement said.

During his visit to Morocco, Chaabane co-chaired the third meeting of a joint military commission with El Farouk, which discussed the agenda for bilateral cooperation in 2022-2023, including training, technical support, and exchanges of visits and expertise, the statement added.

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Africa News

18 migrants found dead, 203 rescued off Moroccan coasts

18 migrants found dead, 203 rescued off Moroccan coasts

Eighteen migrants were found dead and 203 others rescued by the Moroccan navy off the country’s coasts, state-run MAP news agency reported…reports Asian Lite News

Citing a military source, MAP said in its report that the migrants were rescued in the week of May 2 in operations in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, most of whom are sub-Saharans, including women, reports Xinhua news agency.

They were found onboard makeshift boats and jet skis, trying to reach European coasts, while others ventured to swim, said the source.

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The rescued people received first aid on board, and the bodies of the diseased were recovered, it said.

Morocco has become an important crossing point for African migrants who seek to reach Europe for a better life.

The North African country foiled 63,121 illegal immigration attempts in 2021, according to official statistics.

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Africa News Arab News

Morocco foiled 63,121 illegal immigration attempts in 2021′

Morocco foiled 63,121 illegal immigration attempts in 2021'

Morocco foiled 63,121 illegal immigration attempts in 2021, the interior ministry said in a report…reports Asian Lite News

In the first quarter of 2022, the North African country foiled 14,746 illegal immigration attempts, according to the ministry report published after Friday’s meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish Permanent Joint Migration Group, Xinhua news agency reported.

Morocco has become an important crossing point for migrants, mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe.

In 2021, Moroccan authorities bust 256 migrant trafficking networks, and 52 more in the first quarter of 2022, the report said.

ALSO READ: Morocco’s coast guards rescue 352 migrants off coasts

About 3,500 people chose to return voluntarily from Morocco to their country of origin in 2021, and 1,080 in the first quarter of 2022, it added.

A total of 14,236 migrants were saved at sea in 2021, according to the report.

The Moroccan-Spanish Permanent Joint Migration Group met on Friday for the first time since 2019, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and their diplomatic crisis over Madrid’s changed policy on Western Sahara question that lasted a year and ended only a month ago.

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Arab News News

Morocco “strongly condemns” Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa mosque

Morocco’s Foreign Ministry calls on the United Nations and the international community to act promptly to put an end to the actions…reports Asian Lite News

Morocco has “strongly condemned” Israeli actions against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque, saying such actions will “fuel feelings of hatred and extremism and destroy the chances of reviving the peace process in the region.”

In a statement on Saturday, Morocco’s Foreign Ministry calls on the United Nations and the international community to act promptly to put an end to the actions, Xinhua news agency reported.

Upon the instructions from Morocco’s king, the condemnation was delivered directly to the Head of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat, according to the statement.

ALSO READ: Antonio voices concern over situation in Jerusalem

The tension between Israel and the Palestinians has flared up in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past three weeks as the Jewish festival of Passover overlaps with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Palestinians clashed with Israeli police forces on Friday at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, leaving more than 160 people wounded.

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Africa News News

Morocco, Spain Resume Bilateral Ties

Morocco and Spain reiterated their will to open a new chapter in the bilateral relations, said a statement issued by the Moroccan Royal Cabinet…reports Asian Lite News

Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, during their talks held in Rabat, pledged to start a new stage in the bilateral ties “based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, permanent consultation, frank and loyal cooperation,” the statement said.

They also agreed to take concrete actions in the framework of a roadmap covering all areas of their partnership, the statement added.

Bilateral relations between Morocco and Spain deteriorated in April last year, after Spain admitted the Polisario Front leader for medical treatment using Algerian documents.

In last month, Spain announced a major shift in its policy by endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan to settle the dispute over Western Sahara, paving the way for easing their strained ties.

Sanchez reaffirmed his country’s position on the Western Sahara issue, which considers “the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the dispute,” the statement added.

Another report says the state-run company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide Morocco with an advanced air and missile defence system, after they signed a $600 million.

IAI will provide Morocco with the Barak MX system, in a deal that began to take shape during Defence Minister Benny Gantz’s visit to Morocco in November last year, according to Israel’s Channel 12 TV news and financial website Globes.

ALSO READ: MBZ attends Iftar banquet hosted by King of Morocco

Barak MX provides a single integrated solution for multiple simultaneous aerial threats from different sources and ranges in several mission types and battle conditions, Xinhua news agency quoted the reports as saying.

These threats include fighters, sea-skimming and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, drones, helicopters and gliding bombs, and the system offers three interception ranges of 35, 70 and 150 km.

Morocco and Israel signed a historic agreement for the establishment of full diplomatic relations in December 2020.

The deal comes amid Morocco’s growing tension with its neighbour Algeria and a possible threat of booby-trapped drones against the North African country, according to Channel 12.

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-Top News Abu Dhabi UAE News

MBZ attends Iftar banquet hosted by King of Morocco

MBZ attends Iftar banquet hosted by King of Morocco (WAM)

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended an iftar banquet hosted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco in Rabat…reports Asian Lite News

During the banquet, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and His Majesty the King of Morocco exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan, and prayed to Allah Almighty to perpetuate goodness, and blessings for all.

MBZ attends Iftar banquet hosted by King of Morocco (WAM)

The two sides also exchanged cordial talk on the depth and width of relations between the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing the two nations continued progress, progress and prosperity.

The banquet was attended by Moulay Al Hassan, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Morocco, Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and a number of sheikhs and officials. (WAM)

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