Rabat – The Moroccan national amputee football team defeated its Irish counterpart today in the Amputee Football World Cup with a 0-6 victory. Morocco has qualified for the knockout phase.
Today’s game was the national team’s opening match, and marked Morocco’s first participation in the global tournament. The sporting event is taking place in Istanbul, Turkey between September 30 and October 9.
Morocco qualified for the global tournament after finishing fifth at the African Cup of Nations in Tanzania. The continental tournament, which took place in December 2021, marked Morocco’s first ever participation.
Morocco’s Royal Federation of Sports for Persons with Disabilities (FRMSPSH) set up the national team last year.
Led by head coach Fouad Assou, the Moroccan national team was drawn into group D, alongside Iran, Ireland, and Brazil.
Morocco’s Salah Eddine El Hassani and Ilias Essibaa scored two goals each in today’s game. Meanwhile, Mouhssin Cheghagh and Hamza Lmouden scored the national team’s fifth and sixth goals.
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In preparation for the World Cup, the national team played two friendly games against Tanzania (4 – 2) and Iraq (3 – 0) last week. Morocco won both games, proving the players readiness and determination to produce a spectacular performance in Turkey.
Sixteen teams will qualify for the playoffs of the World Cup, which will be the top two teams from each group, as well as the top four teams in the third place.
The national team will face off against Brazil on Sunday at 12:00 pm (GMT+1) and then against Iran on Monday at 1:00 pm (GMT+1) at the TTF Riva Facility in northern Istanbul.
Organized by the World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF), the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup marks the 16th edition of the tournament.
