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Rabat – Mbark Boussoufa, the Moroccan football team’s key midfielder, is feeling optimistic about Morocco’s decisive match against Ivory Coast on Saturday in Abidjan.
In an interview with Moroccan daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, the 33-year-old footballer said that the Moroccan squad has everything that it takes to beat the Ivorian opponent. The footballer noted that a 1-1 draw is enough to qualify for the next phase of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Boussoufa, who also plays for the Emirati club Al Jazira, added that the team’s recent success can be explained through Morocco’s football coach, Herve Renard, who “brought life to the Moroccan team by strengthening its effectiveness over confrontations.”
“This has been true both during different phases of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) and during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers,” added Boussoufa.
Boussoufa mentioned the trust that Renard enjoys with the Moroccan team, as well as the good atmosphere he has established within the group in order to integrate all footballers rapidly into the team.
“Morocco has a very good team, now and for the future,” he said.
The footballer stated that Renard always supports his team by giving them a fighting spirit in order to encourage them. “He always reminds his players, at the end of every game, how proud he is to be with them,” added Boussoufa.
The footballer did not forget to commend the massive support of the Moroccan fans, “who are inciting us to set fire in the arena of Abidjan’s stadium.” He explained that this “will be our creed throughout the game on Saturday.”
Boussoufa added that “this is why we are very optimistic for the qualification to World Cup in Russia.”
