Moroccan ambassador tips Nigeria for CHAN glory

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Jan 12, 2018. 09:00

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Nigeria, His Excellency Moha Ou Ali Tagma says the Super Eagles can win the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament which will start in Casablanca on Saturday.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website, Tagma told the NFF’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, that the Moroccan B team may not be as strong as the A team that has (like Nigeria’s A team) qualified to be one of Africa’s five flagbearers at this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals.

“Having said that, I will be most fulfilled if Nigeria and Morocco should play the final match in Casablanca on 4th February,” Tagma said, adding: “If your B team is like the A team, which easily qualified for the World Cup and defeated Argentina 4-2 in a friendly match two months ago, then it can go all the way.”

Sanusi insisted that the NFF treasures the warm relationship between the Federation and the Federation Royal Marocaine de Football, whose President, Fouzi Lekjaa, is the 3rd Vice President of CAF and also a member of the CAF Emergency Committee, like Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick.

“Morocco is like a second home for us. As I speak now, our Super Eagles are in Rabat training ahead of the CHAN and have the support of the FRMF. We appreciate the good relationship between our two Federations and between our two countries, and will always do what is necessary to service and protect this wonderful relationship.”

Also present during the visit were Morocco’s deputy head of mission, El Houssaine Oustitane, NFF’s Director of Communications Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Head of Protocol Tunde Aderibigbe, Paul Okwudolor and Ayo Ibidapo.