Atlas Lions exit 2026 World Cup after remarkable run to semi-finals
via Le Matin2 min read
The Atlas Lions' journey in the 2026 World Cup concluded after a 2-0 defeat to France in the semi-finals at Boston Stadium. Despite the loss, their performance left a significant mark on Moroccan football history, showcasing their resilience and ability to compete with top international teams. Coached by Mohammed Ouahbi, the team maintained a strong defensive stance against France, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou making crucial saves, including a penalty from Kylian Mbappé in the 28th minute and another stop against Désiré Doué. Morocco also demonstrated offensive intent, with combinations from Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, and Azzedine Ounahi. Although they increased their offensive pressure in the second half, France eventually took control, with Mbappé scoring in the 60th minute and Ousmane Dembélé adding a second goal six minutes later. This defeat ended Morocco's World Cup campaign, but their achievements, including advancing past the group stage and eliminating the Netherlands and Canada to reach the quarter-finals, highlight their consistent competitiveness at the highest level. This performance, four years after their historic run in Qatar, reinforces Morocco's position among the world's elite football nations and fuels future ambitions. France will proceed to the semi-finals to face the winner of the match between Belgium and Spain.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadMorocco's national team was defeated by France 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. The match took place on Thursday at the Boston stadium. Kylian Mbappé scored for France in the 60th minute, followed by Ousmane Dembélé who doubled the lead in the 66th minute. France will now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the match between Belgium and Spain.
Morocco is modernizing its travel documents with the introduction of a new generation of biometric passports. The Government Council adopted draft decree n°2.26.551, which amends the 2008 decree establishing the biometric passport. Presented by the Minister of Interior, this initiative aims to enhance the security of the document and align it with the latest international standards. Mustapha Baitas, Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson, stated that this reform is part of ongoing efforts to protect the Moroccan passport from falsification and document fraud. The decree outlines the implementation of this new biometric passport, with technical specifications to be detailed in a joint order from the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. This order will also specify the formalities and conditions for obtaining the new document. Current biometric passports will remain valid until their expiration or gradual replacement. Holders of valid passports are not required to renew them immediately. Beyond security enhancements, the new passport will also reflect "Moroccan identity in its multiple facets" through a renewed design. This development is part of the public authorities' strategy to modernize administrative services and identity documents, aiming to strengthen the reliability of Moroccan documents and facilitate international travel.
Must ReadArtificial intelligence is profoundly changing information manipulation strategies, especially in electoral contexts. While deepfakes are the most visible threat, they are only part of a much larger and more complex ecosystem. In an electoral or pre-electoral context, the threats posed by digital maliciousness multiply, and the stakes are much more serious. It can serve as a weapon of destabilization, public opinion manipulation, and even foreign interference. As legislative elections approach, Morocco is primarily concerned. Recent examples of digital smear and disinformation campaigns remind us of the need for extreme vigilance. The first risk is audio and video deepfakes. Fake voice recordings, now easy to produce by cloning voices from a few seconds of audio, are particularly concerning. More difficult to detect than doctored videos, they can spread false statements attributed to public figures and sow doubt in a few hours. But the most underestimated threat lies in large-scale automated disinformation. Generative AI now makes it possible to produce thousands of credible fake articles, comments, testimonials, or profiles at a negligible cost. The goal is no longer just to spread a lie but to saturate the information space to make the truth indistinguishable from the false. Added to this are astroturfing, which artificially simulates a popular opinion movement through coordinated account networks, persuasive microtargeting, which customizes messages to influence or demobil