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Rabat – President of Morocco’s Royal Federation of Football (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa on Tuesday disclosed that at least two players from the Moroccan national team had suffered from COVID-19 during the Qatar World Cup, including Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd.
Lekjaa made the statement at the FRMF’s board of directors meeting, during which he highlighted the Atlas Lions’ impressive heroics despite facing several challenges, including injuries that they sustained throughout the tournament, as well as some cases of COVID-19.
“All these factors did not make them complacent, even for a single moment,” said Lekjaa, stressing that the Atlas Lions were aware of the “historical responsibility” that was placed on them.
In addition, he praised the team spirit that the players displayed, despite the injuries that Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Sofyan Amrabat, and Youssef En-Nesyri, had all suffered, for which they should have been given at least a 15-day recovery period. However, the footballers still chose to fight until the last moment.
FRMF’s president stressed that the Moroccan squad was able to overcome “the curse of injuries and COVID-19” that faced them in Qatar. He added, “they truly were heroes who deserve praise.”
Read also: King Mohammed VI Awards Atlas Lions with Wissams at Royal Reception
Lekjaa also expressed his gratitude to King Mohammed VI for supporting and encouraging the Moroccan national team, before, during, and after the Qatar World Cup.
Following the Atlas Lions’ return to Morocco, King Mohammed VI received the national team, alongside Lekjaa and head coach Walid Regragui in the Royal palace in Rabat. The monarch awarded them with Royal wissams (medals), in recognition of their achievements at the global event.
The federation president described the royal reception as a “historic event” that “will remain ingrained in the history of Moroccan sports.”
In addition, he expressed his appreciation to the Atlas Lion’s fans for their “exceptional presence” in Qatar, saying that they were more than the team’s “12th player.”
Lekjaa concluded his statement by addressing the issue of the ticket disappearance for Morocco’s matches during the 2022 World Cup. He promised to place “strict procedures” against those that the investigation proves to have been involved in the case.
