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Rabat – Following the Morocco-Canada game which saw the Atlas Lions win 2-1, Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui praised the team’s squad as well as the fans present in the stadium.
“The first half was probably our best performance in very long,” he said during the post-game press conference, also acknowledging that Canada was a strong opponent with “nothing to lose.”
Morocco took an early lead during the match, scoring 2 goals by the 23rd minute. Despite an own goal shrinking the lead for Canada before the end of the first half, Morocco managed to keep its defenses up, maintaining its lead.
Regragui also praised the players’ performances, particularly Achraf Hakimi, who was awarded the Man of the Match award.
“Moroccans should be kissing his head,” he said jokingly, referring to the PSG full-back playing the match with an injury. “He was the best player in the match with an injury. He does deserve it, though.”
“Congratulations to the players who entered history, deservedly,” he said. He also praised the Moroccan fans in Doha and back home, adding that the Moroccan people needed the qualification.
Read also: World Cup: Morocco Qualifies for Knockout Phase for First Time Since 1986
Morocco defeated Canada 2-1 on Thursday. A goalless tie between Belgium and Croatia meant the Atlas Lions qualified to the knockout rounds at the top of their group.
In its previous two fixtures, Morocco tied Croatia 0-0 and then defeated Belgium 2-0, setting up very favorable chances to go through the group stage.
Morocco is now the second African team after Senegal to qualify, and the only Arab team left in the competition.
