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African team to win World Cup in '15-20 years', says Morocco coach

news24.com

Morocco coach Walid Regragui said he believes an African team will win the World Cup in the next "15 to 20 years" after his team finished fourth in Qatar.The Atlas Lions, who became the first African World Cup semi-finalists in history, lost Saturday's third place play-off 2-1 against 2018 runners-up Croatia but captured the imagination in Qatar.The next World Cup in 2026, held across the USA, Canada and Mexico, will be expanded to 48 teams and Africa will have at least nine slots - up from five at present."With nine participants, we're going to learn.

In 15, 20 years, I'm sure an African team will win the World Cup because we'll have learned," said Regragui."We have a stage to get past.

We need to build on that, with hard work and desire. This DNA is not just being built for Morocco, but for the continent."WATCH | Top corner: News24 Sports discusses the highly anticipated 2022 FIFA World Cup finalMorocco finished top of a group including Croatia and Belgium, who came third at the 2018 World Cup, before knocking out Spain and Portugal to reach the last four.Their run was ended in the semi-finals by defending champions France, but Regragui has urged his players to back up their historic display by winning next year's Africa Cup of Nations."I said to the players in the changing room, if you want to go down in history then you're going to have to win the Africa Cup of Nations," said Regragui."We need to dominate our continent."Morocco have been crowned African champions just once, in 1976, but their performances at the World Cup demonstrated they are a team on the rise under Regragui, who was only appointed in August."Tomorrow morning we'll take stock and all realise we've pulled off a fantastic achievement here.

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Tens of thousands of Moroccans thronged the capital on Tuesday to welcome home their national football team, the first Arab or African squad ever to reach the semi-final of a World Cup.
Tens of thousands of Moroccans thronged the capital on Tuesday to welcome home their national football team, the first Arab or African squad ever to reach the semi-final of a World Cup.
RABAT: Morocco’s national soccer team are set to return home Tuesday after accomplishing the seemingly impossible feat of finishing fourth at the World Cup in Qatar. Tens of thousands of Moroccans were expected to turn out to greet the players. As the first African or Arab team to reach the World Cup semifinals, the Moroccan team, known as the Atlas Lions, made history and were one of the big success stories of this year’s tournament, the first hosted by an Arab nation.
DOHA: Croatia defeated Morocco 2-1 in the World Cup third place play-off on Saturday (Dec 17), with Mislav Orsic curling home the winner.
DOHA : Morocco will leave Qatar proud and happy after becoming the first African or Arabic team to reach the last four at a World Cup but they should strive for more in the future, coach Walid Regragui said on Saturday.

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