Women’s World Cup run on a par with Morocco’s men in Qatar – coach
On Tuesday, Morocco's coach, Reynald Pedros, stated that his team's achievement of reaching the last 16 in the Women's World Cup is equally remarkable as the achievement of the country's men's team reaching the semi-finals in the Qatar World Cup.
Their journey concluded with a 4-0 defeat against France in Adelaide, yet Morocco's debut at the Women's World Cup exceeded all predictions as they reached the knockout stages.
"Attaining a spot in the World Cup last 16 for Morocco is truly exceptional. This journey has been a remarkable adventure," expressed Pedros, the former French international midfielder.
Recovering from their initial 6-0 loss to Germany in Australia, his team triumphed over South Korea and Colombia, both with 1-0 scores, securing their advancement to the knockout phase.
"We've been united as a team since June 12, preparing relentlessly for this World Cup," added Pedros, who assumed the role of coach in 2020 and led the team to the Africa Cup of Nations final last year.
"I can hardly believe that we entered our last group game with the chance to make it to the last 16. Achieving this milestone for the first time with this team, I sincerely believe, is on par with the men reaching the semi-finals."
"It's truly exceptional. We started building this team only three years ago. Numerous aspects fill us with pride, even though we've been eliminated."
Morocco's men encountered a 2-0 defeat against France in the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup, ultimately securing a fourth-place finish, the finest result by an African team in the tournament.
Pedros and his team will now regroup to pursue qualification for the Paris Olympics next year, marking Morocco's women's debut in the Games.
"I extend my congratulations and gratitude to them, as the emotions they've stirred are truly incredible. Then, we'll return to work," he stated.
"We must prepare for the Olympic qualifiers, drawing from the experience we've gained here. I am genuinely proud to lead this team because we have an incredible group of players."
0 Comments