BBC Explores ‘Secrets Behind Morocco’s World Cup Success’

Rabat – BBC Sportsworld programme released on March 22 a new episode to explore the “secret” behind Morocco’s football success. Titled “History makers: the rise of Morocco Football,” the episode featured Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and others.

The episode centers on Morocco’s World Cup journey and examines how the Atlas Lions’ triumph in Qatar in late 2022 took years of arduous preparation.

BBC Broadcaster John Bennett visited the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale, a city near the capital Rabat, to get a behind-the-scenes look at the facility and to speak with the staff who helped shape Morocco’s football philosophy.

Bennett also met with several members of the Moroccan national football team, including head coach Walid Regragui, shot stopper Yassine Bounou, and midfielder Ilias Chair.

“History makers. The rise of Morocco.”

My new audio documentary, out now.

Hear from:
Walid Regragui
Yassine Bounou
Ilias Chair
Rosella Ayane
⚽️ Plus, inside Morocco’s football HQ

Listen via: https://t.co/7YaJMRAo9D

Produced by Tom Paton @bbcsport @bbcworldservice pic.twitter.com/sHYTh9VRgi

— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) March 23, 2023

Bounou discussed how Morocco’s World Cup success inspired all Africans to believe that anything is possible.

“Moroccan players or African players have a complex; when they have to play against a European or South American team, they think they are inferior… but Morocco showed that it’s possible,” he said.

Bounou went on to say that in the next World Cup he is sure that other African teams will do the same [reach a World Cup semi final] or even win the whole thing to become World champions.

Speaking about the upcoming African Cup of Nations, Regragui told the BBC that it will be a very “difficult” competition with very good teams, including from Nigeria, Egypt, Mali and Algeria. Yet the Moroccan head coach thinks it will be “a good challenge” for Morocco’s national team.

The African Cup of Nations is next year

So can the #AtlasLions win the competition? @WalidRegraguiof certainly wants to ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ILg2I4yRgl

— BBC World Service Sport (@BBCWSSport) March 23, 2023

The Atlas Lions are the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. Their historic journey at the 2022 Qatar World Cup made global headlines, with the world’s leading outlets marveling at Morocco’s underdog story.

Meanwhile, African and Arab fans celebrated the Moroccan national team for inspiring and showing the way to other nations for more such underdog triumphs in coming editions of the World Cup.

The Atlas Lions were featured on the front page of India’s largest newspaper, The Times of India. The newspaper’s headline, “Football’s Arab Spring: This time for Africa,” emphasized the historic significance of Morocco’s World Cup triumphs for both the Arab World and Africa.