Morocco beat Belgium in friendly, Olympic squad defeats Guinea

28/03/2008

Morocco defeated Belgium in a friendly game, the Moroccan Olympic team won a Beijing qualifier, and Olympique Khouribga, FAR Rabat and Ittihad Zemmouri de Khemisset lead the 23rd round of the Moroccan League championship.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat -28/03/08

[Getty Images] Morocco's temporary coach Fathi Jamal led the Atlas Lions to a resounding 4-1 victory over Belgium in a friendly match played on Wednesday (March 26th).This was his first encounter after the team left the African Cup in Ghana.

The Moroccan national team crushed Belgium with a dazzling 4-1 score Wednesday (March 26th) in a friendly game at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, with the aid of their temporary coach Fathi Jamal.

The Atlas Lions' first goal was brilliantly executed by Soufiane Alloudi after 13 minutes. Tarik Sektoui forcefully scored the second in the 34th minute from a distance. The 85th and 91st minutes dazzled spectators with the third and fourth goals by Nabil El Zhar and Abdessalam Benjelloun, respectively. The Belgian team retaliated in the 50th minute as Axel Witsel managed to move the net. The encounter left fans in a state of relief after they were annoyed by the team’s disappointing performance in the latest African Cup finals.

Also on Wednesday, Morocco's Olympic team of mostly GNFE league players defeated Guinea in a Beijing 2008 Group 3 qualifying match. FAR Rabat's El Bassil El Mahdi scored the only goal in the 65th minute.

In an endeavour to avoid riots between Raja and Wydad of Casablanca, Rabat hosted this most competitive game of the GNF 23rd round, which ended with a 1-0 result for Raja. As expected, the match showed off the usual impressive performance of two squads well-known for top-notch play. Raja controlled the game during the first half, though both sides wasted a number of opportunities to score. Raja's Andrea Sagnor finally scored the game’s only goal in the 46th minute.

FAR Rabat and Jeunesse Massira, meanwhile, tied 1-1, although the former showed supremacy in the lone goal scored by Abderrazek Lemnsafi in the 55th on a pass from Al Serag. Afterwards, Jeunesse Massira showed some improvement, but Radi Sakim scored a draw goal in the 93rd minute with a head throw.

Another 1-1 draw resulted from a contest between Moghreb Fes and Moghreb Tetouan. The encounter saw scant scoring shots, as both teams adopted a defensive strategy. Tetouan player Sersar succeeded in scoring in the 60th minute, only to be countered by El Dahmani 34 minutes later.

In other action, Hassania Agadir managed to crush CODM Meknes with a 2-0 victory. Yacine El Ramy scored in the 74th minute; the other goal came in the 87th from Omar Akdy.

Another victory was claimed by Ittihad Zemmouri de Khemisset over hosts Olympique Safi. IZK player Mohamed Lahceni scored their first in the 17th, while El Khaddouri hit the net the second time in the 73rd after a throw from Belaamri. Having wasted many golden opportunities, Abdulwahed Al Shekhsi scored Asfi’s only goal.

Kenitra defeated hosts Oujda 1-0, where the only goal was marked in the 19th minute, triggering a penalty shot to which Kenitra objected. Though Adnane Touiza failed to see it through, Hamada shoved the ball right in.

FUS Rabat and Kawkab Marrakesh tied 1-1, where the latter scored their goal in the 54th, only to balance in the 83rd by Aziz Souidi. This was the eleventh draw for the capital squad.