Moroccan World Cup hopes fade
2009-06-21
Morocco stands little chance of qualifying for the World Cup and Africa Cup after a draw on Saturday against Togo.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 21/06/09
 [Abdelhak Senna/AFP/Getty Images] Morocco's Youssef Kharja Houssine heads the ball during Saturday's World Cup 2010 group A qualifying football match against Togo. The match ended 0-0. |
Fans were disappointed on Saturday (June 20th) when the Moroccan National Football Team played a goalless match against Togo as part of the double qualifiers for the World Cup and Africa Cup.
The game was played in Rabat.
Despite the weak performance, Togo's team managed to adopt a defensive strategy that proved effective against the Atlas Lions, who were missing Marouane Chamakh for the second game in a row due to injury.
Morocco's poor performance was obvious from the beginning, although they attempted to score several times.
Kamal Chafni wasted an attempt with a header in the 27th minute. A minute later, Houssine Kharja wasted yet another when he fired a strong ball towards Togo's goal. Mounir Elhamdaoui, a recent addition to the Lions squad, wasted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute, though he is the top scorer in the Dutch championship with his team AZ Alkmaar.
Disappointed fans were vocal.
"Players showcase their very best performance in European championships," one fan said after the game, "yet give weak performance when they play with their national teams. Also, Roger Lemerre is useless and should be replaced."
At some point, fans had had enough. They were angry at coach Roger Lemerre and started chanting "Al Zaki" in reference to former coach Badou Zaki, who took the team to the African Cup of Nations finals in 2004.
During the second half, the Lions' performance stayed just as weak. Marouane Zemmam was the best player in the game, having launched the most important attempt in the 86th minute on a strong penalty kick, but the Togolese goalie still cleared it.
"The problem is in selecting members of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which manages the sector. The members should be chosen based on experience, not changing personalities just for the sake of change," said Bahaa Al Din Al Sharfi, a Moroccan fan.
With these results, Morocco now stands very little chance to qualify for the World Cup or the Africa Cup, ranking third with only two points. The Togolese team ranks second with four points, while Gabon tops the group with six points. Cameroon comes last with a single point.
Morocco will play against Togo in the home encounter on September 5th and will head to Gabon on October 10th to play against the hosting team. Morocco will be hosting its game with Cameroon on November 14th.
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abdes Posted 2009-06-21
We need to liberate Morocco's national team from French colonialism. We are a football country. Zaki is the best one for the best management of our team. I cannot understand having a foreign coach defend our flag. This is about patriotism, not just a simple, fun event. Here is a question: Who is the coach of France's team?
علي شماخ Posted 2009-06-22
The national squad incurred many defeats this year. The Moroccan fans are disappointed. We ask God to grant them success.
mohamed Posted 2009-06-22
Honestly, I personally was expecting the result of the national team for many reasons. First of all, why have they left Zaki? Honestly, if we want to progress, the federation must involve the Moroccan people in appointing the coach through elections via msn.
Anonymous Posted 2009-06-22
Exactly bring Zaki back, current team...does not deserve to go to CAN and World cup in all honesty, i am moroccan and I AM PROUD MOROCCAN to the bone, but seeing the match...i want them to lose, they dont play with we are known for, the resilience and the pride of carrying the national symbol. most of the players are moroccans who either bron/grwon elsewhere and do not know what like to play like you are fighting for flag. At this point, i saw Algeria team..which i'd encourage them all the way. they're our brothers and they deserve based on what i saw, they reminded me of our teams in the 80's.
abdesamad Posted 2009-06-22
The best coach is Zaki. The day on which Zaki left and the team is dropping. They must advance to the world cup. This is a shame because it is the third time we don't advance to it. We long to see our team playing in the world cup God willing.
Dziri58 Posted 2009-06-22
To abdes; here is a better question: Who is the coach of Algeria's team? You are absolutely right and I could not agree with you more. No foreign coach can possibly have the will or desire to fight to win like a local coach does, even if the latter is less experienced for that matter, nor can he motivate a squad like a local one does. For a start a foreign coach has no spirit of patriotism and why should he have? All what matters to him is the cheque each month, the cushy lifestyle and the working conditions. He is therefore not ready to make sacrifices for the good of the nation. Algeria has had its fair share of foreign coaches with Cavalli being the latest and it got them absolutely nowhere all these years. But look at them now under Saadane. He has instilled team spirit and combativity to a level that no foreign coach could achieve. They are now simply breathtaking to watch, and may this continue Insha Allah. I really hope that Morocco will learn from this experience and not keep repeating it as they are a really great footballing Nation.
chamse Posted 2009-06-23
What a giant lie!!! We will have to wait four more years just to hope to maybe see Morocco at the World Cup!
hassouna/saraha raha Posted 2009-06-23
Honestly, we wished Morocco would take it. However, we were disappointed. We wish all the good in coming years God willing.
moroccan patriot Posted 2009-06-23
Moroccan Football is not the only thing in Morocco that still needs to be liberated from French Colonialism.
hajarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Posted 2009-06-23
Thank you for allowing me to write. I also agree with supporters. I want the coach Badou Zaki to come back to the Moroccan national team. I think that all lion players have lost their vitality. Though I am not expert in football, I think plans drawn by the coach Roger Lemerre are not good unlike the coach Badou Zaki. This is not an insult but just an opinion. Thank you.
vive algérie Posted 2009-06-24
Salam alikum. Don't be angry because there is another Faras... God willing the great Algeria will continue its games successfully after defeating Egypt and Zambia... with you greens to achieve success... The brother of Algeria.
mohamed Posted 2009-06-24
Zaki is the only coach who can save Morocco and restore its position in the football scene.
mohamed bxl Posted 2009-06-25
Stop pretexts, all these years you have been complaining about the coach. In reality, the problem is that the national team needs time. It is not logical to come up with players from different countries in one week or two. You shouldn't forget that Zaki was isolated with players for 6 months and prevented the media. He went with them to the neighbouring Spain. Stop pretexts. The coach has won titles with Belgium team and has other titles. Moreover, inside the team there is “discrimination” by Moroccan players towards professionals. Thank you.
هند Posted 2009-06-25
Honestly, I lost all hope in the Moroccan national team. They are fooling us. Enough. It is gone with the wind. The person who said that the Moroccan national team is the first sponsor of the hike in diabetes patients in Morocco was right. I add high blood pressure.
amar Posted 2009-06-26
God willing, all is not lost for Morocco. They are going to get Chamakh. I think that Cameroon is going to win in Gabon. Afterward, Morocco will beat Cameroon at home and it will beat Gabon and Togo at home too. This is what I am wishing for them. God willing, I hope that Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia will qualify for the World Cup in South Africa.
morad Posted 2009-06-26
Salam. We want Bado Zaki.
Moroccan Patriot Posted 2009-06-27
Morocco WILL qualify for the African Cup. They MAY even qualify for the world cup. You will see.
hatim Posted 2009-06-28
Frankly, our national team does not deserve to be called the Atlas Lions because they are quite far off from this title. They deserve to be called the Atlas Ladies. Hahaha.
jalalhtm Posted 2009-07-11
Hi, I am Jala from Rabat and Badou Zaki.
محمد زموري Posted 2009-07-12
I hope they will bring Troussier because he is better than Zaki and has a wide experience with many teams especially Japan. I wish all the best to our national team. Long live Morocco. Thank you.
nabil Posted 2009-07-16
The Moroccan team has lost the ball. They should better go and watch other teams. We no longer have football in Morocco. Look at Algeria, look at Egypt, look at Tunisia. They die for the national flag. But we have just defeats, traitors, pouring alcohol, and narguila. They don’t care about the flag. Thank you.
kamal Posted 2009-07-16
Salam. God willing Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria will qualify to the World Cup.
khalil rajawi Posted 2009-07-27
We are against the foreign coach. We want Zaki to come back and make us happy as he did before.
rachid Posted 2009-08-13
Frankly, I do not think Morocco will qualify for the Africa Cup and World Cup. Look at the friendly it had against Congo. This game was worthless. The defence was overly isolated and not a single forward was playing offensively. They did not pass enough and it took to long for them to rebound. This has nothing to do with the best players or the coach; it is the president of the Royal Moroccan Federation. It is not Roger Lemerre and it is not Henri Michel and it is not Troussier. They themselves were had the best professional teams in 1986, 1998 and 2004. No bother!! It is over for Morocco. We will have to wait another five years!
mourhlabi ther shar Posted 2009-08-16
Hi everyone- I am very worried about our national team. All the same, I would like use to say that we resemble our players quite a bit: they got big heads and then lost the sense of victory. To them, playing at Sochaux, Az or even a small European team is good. It is party time and there is no need to try to progress any further. The proof is that there are no Moroccans in this great team. Changing coaches gives them an excuse and wins them a bit of time for the next excuse. Indeed, we have great players compared to our neighbours, Algeria and Tunisia, but they have butter feet and they rake in the penalties. I would just like to add: Long live Morocco! I support you in spite of the rotten matches you have had. That is what it means to represent in good times and bad. So respect the criticism or you will not advance. PS- Algerians, keep your heads on straight. You skipped an entire generation beginning with the quarter finals against Germany. You were perched for the right moment. Zidane is French and in no case represents Algeria. And, for us it is even worse: we lost 3 0 against Scotland. That is a defeat.
MOURLHABI THER SHAR Posted 2009-08-16
Colonialism!? What are you trying to say, Abdes? Whatever!? They do not need a new coach. This is just an excuse, and it is not valid, but cowardly on the part of the team.
COSA AFRIKA POETIKA Posted 2009-08-16
Hi everyone- I am afraid that our national team will not make the trip. In spite of possessing some good qualities on the field and on the sidelines and a coach that takes into consideration their young age, if we do not qualify for "marlich", we are all the same going to celebrate our beautiful country in 2010 in our homeland. When it gets down to it, why be cruel and send our brothers to the World Cup to eventually be beaten. Unfortunately, we are not qualified like the rest of the countries in Africa except when we play friendlies against the Malawi. LOL. What a shame. At least, we will not be obliged to justify ourselves. We were running circles around them at the big quarter finals and we made it. But, we support the African countries, which, without a doubt, are going to fall from high up. Imagine their level. Pfff, it is not better than the Fenecs, Lions, Pantere and the Aigles of Carthage, which all fell. For a big fan who is looking reality in the face, we are just the openers of every big show. -Respectfully
youness Posted 2009-10-05
How are you? I wish you victory. Try as much as you can to defeat Cameroon, oh Lord.
younesssssssssssss Posted 2009-10-05
How are you? I wish you victory, God willing, against Cameroon. Without Bado Zaki, the national team is nothing. But we always wish victory. Love Morocco.
nabil Posted 24 days ago
What a shame that the Lions turned out to not even be a cat! Adieu strong Morocco! We are once again going to see our Tunisian neighbours in South Africa.
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