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Tag: Moroccco

  • Morocco becomes first African team to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Morocco becomes first African team to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Morocco thrashed Niger 5-0 to become the 1st African team to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup in a round six, group E match played on Friday  night in Rabat.

    The Atlas Lions showed their intent from the onset, playing in front of the 68,500 fans who thronged the newly refurbished Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and taking control of the game with a 2-0 lead in the first stanza thanks to Ismael Sabiri’s brace.

    Niger, who played with 10 men for almost 70 minutes after Abdoul-Latif Goumey, was shown marching orders for a 2nd booking, found it hard in the 2nd half as Yakoub Elkaabi extended Morocco’s lead with a 3rd goal following Youssef Bellamari’s cross in the opening 5 minutes.

    Lille forward Hamza Igamane added the 4th in the 69th minute before providing an assist to Azzedine Ounahi in the dying minutes of the game to wrap up a five-star performance for the home side.

    The victory gave Morocco an unassailable lead with a maximum 18 points, booking their ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted next year by the USA, Canada and Mexico for a record 6th time.

    The match was the 1st to be staged at the newly renovated Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium, which will stage the AFCON finals, including the opening Group A fixture between Morocco and Comoros on 21st December and the final set for 18th January next year.

    The Atlas Lions showed their intent from the onset, playing in front of the 68,500 fans who thronged the newly refurbished Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and taking control of the game with a 2-0 lead in the first stanza thanks to Ismael Sabiri’s brace.

    Niger, who played with 10 men for almost 70 minutes after Abdoul-Latif Goumey was shown marching orders for a 2nd booking, found it hard in the 2nd half as Yakoub Elkaabi extended Morocco’s lead with a 3rd goal following Youssef Bellamari’s cross in the opening 5 minutes.

    Lille forward Hamza Igamane added the 4th in the 69th minute before providing an assist to Azzedine Ounahi in the dying minutes of the game to wrap up a five-star performance for the home side.

    The victory gave Morocco an unassailable lead with a maximum 18 points, booking their ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted next year by the USA, Canada and Mexico for a record 6th time.

    The match was the 1st to be staged at the newly renovated Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium, which will stage the AFCON finals, including the opening Group A fixture between Morocco and Comoros on 21st December and the final set for 18th January next year.

  • Panama supports autonomy Initiative as solution to Moroccan Sahara dispute

    Panama supports autonomy Initiative as solution to Moroccan Sahara dispute

    The Republic of Panama, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,has declared support for the autonomy initiative terming it the credible and realistic basis for resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

    This position was expressed in a Joint Communiqué signed, on Monday in Rabat, following talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom on June 16.

    The Panamanian minister also stated during a press briefing following the meeting that the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco in 2007 “should be the only solution for the future,” emphasizing his country’s clear support for the autonomy plan as a means to advance toward a lasting resolution of the dispute.

    Panama’s support for the autonomy initiative proposed by the Kingdom to resolve the Moroccan Sahara dispute comes after its decision to sever all ties with the “sadr” in November 2024.

    In the same Joint Communiqué, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Panama reaffirmed their commitment to the sanctity of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

  • USA supports Morocco autonomous plan

    USA supports Morocco autonomous plan

    Joshua Harris, the US’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Africa, has reaffirmed his nation’s support for the autonomy proposal as a “serious, credible, and realistic” way to resolve the Sahara conflict.

    After Mr. Harris’ meetings with Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, the US Embassy in Rabat issued a press release stating that the US “continues to view Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as serious, credible, and realistic.”

    Furthermore, the senior US official “reaffirmed the deep and historic partnership between the United States and Morocco” while being joined by Puneet Talwar, his country’s ambassador to Morocco.

    Joshua Harris, whose trip to Rabat is a part of one to “Morocco and Algeria,” also emphasised US gratitude for Morocco’s critical efforts.

    Joshua Harris, whose trip to Rabat is part of a regional tour of “Morocco and Algeria,” also emphasised US gratitude for Morocco’s significant contributions to a number of regional and international issues, such as addressing Sahel instability, supporting the elections in Libya, and promoting equal freedom, security, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians.

  • Russia affirms its strong ties with Morocco in Russia-Africa summit

    Russia affirms its strong ties with Morocco in Russia-Africa summit

    Russia has irreversibly established the principle of participation limited to African countries recognized by the United Nations by formally inviting to its summit, for the second time in a row, the only African governments that receive official recognition on its part.

    Russia has reaffirmed its commitment of establishing a strong and long-term diplomatic relation with Morocco.

    Morocco was among the few African countries which attend the Africa Russia summit for a record 2nd year in row in which the United Nations recognized the Africa head of states who attended the summit as well as the Russian government for its pivotal role in supporting its African allies and partners.

    54 member states of the African Union were invited for the two day summit with others failing to turn up.

    Russian-African meeting, clearly and definitively established that only the 54 member states of the African Union recognized by the UN are members of this summit.

    In other words, firmness and intransigence on matters of principle is a choice that pays off. Several of Morocco’s partners have made this choice. Russia, which took the plunge in 2019, is now sticking to its commitments.
    Referring to issues relating to food security in Africa and around the world, Putin praised the “considerable measures taken by His Majesty the King” to ease global tensions over food products.

    Morocco was represented at the  summit, which was  attended by several African Heads of State and Government, by the government chief, Aziz Akhannouch, who reiterated Morocco’s “permanent attachment” to its relations with its various strategic partners.

    On this occasion, he noted that the distinguished diplomatic relations that Morocco has had with Russia since the 18th century have been considerably strengthened since the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to Moscow in 2016.

    “During this visit, a deep strategic partnership was established, covering a wide range of areas of cooperation, including agriculture, energy, fisheries, science and technology, culture and higher education,” he recalled.

    The Moroccan delegation participating in the summit also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, as well as Moroccan Ambassador to Russia Lotfi Bouchaara.