Rabat – The Moroccan national football team today won its friendly game against Chile with a 2-0 victory at the RCDE stadium in the Spanish city of Barcelona.
The Atlas Lions produced a remarkable display in the run-up of the Qatar World Cup, showing their level of preparation for the global tournament, which will take place between November 20 and December 18.
The game kicked off with mixed feelings for both teams, especially the Atlas Lions who aspired to produce a positive result under the management of newly appointed head coach Walid Regargagui. The match marked the national team’s first game under Regragui’s leadership.
The first half of the match ended with a 0-0 draw. But Soufiane Boufal restored Morocco’s hope after scoring his team’s first goal at the 66th minute with a penalty kick. Abdelhamid Sabiri scored Morocco’s second goal at the 78th minute.
The match also marked Hakim Ziyech’s return to the pitch in Morocco’s colors, almost nine months after his absence due to a feud with the country’s then-head coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
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Earlier this year, Ziyech announced his retirement from the Moroccan football team, attributing his decision to leave the team to the fact that he felt unwanted and unwelcome.
The international friendly was an opportunity for the Atlas Lions to test their preparedness for the World Cup. Morocco will play another warm-up match against Paraguay on September 27 in the Spanish city of Seville.
Last June, the Moroccan football team played a friendly match against the United States, ending in a 3-0 victory for the American team.
The Atlas Lions’ World Cup opening game will be against Croatia on November 23. The national team will then face Belgium on November 27 and Canada on December 1.
