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Van Dijk anticipates a challenging World Cup 2026 match against high-level Moroccan team
via Le Matin1 min read
Virgil Van Dijk, captain of Liverpool, expects a difficult match against Morocco in the World Cup 2026 round of 16. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Van Dijk highlighted Morocco's strong squad, including Achraf Hakimi, whom he described as one of the best right-backs in global football. He also mentioned forward Isma毛l Saibari for his remarkable season, an experienced goalkeeper, a quality coach, and talented players like Brahim D铆az and midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Van Dijk stated that the Dutch national team has prepared seriously for the confrontation with the Atlas Lions, with the technical staff conducting a thorough analysis of the Moroccan team's play. He noted the special nature of the match due to the close ties between the Netherlands and Morocco, emphasizing that it is a direct elimination game with only two outcomes: victory or elimination, and that they will give their best.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Morocco's foreign exchange reserves reached a record $48.6 billion in 2025, positioning the country fifth on the African continent, according to Afreximbank. This marks a significant increase from $35.6 billion in 2021. The reserves experienced a dip to $32.3 billion in 2022, a 9.3% decrease, attributed to rising energy and raw material prices following the war in Ukraine, which impacted import costs for many African nations. However, a reversal began in 2023, with reserves climbing to $36.3 billion, an increase of 12.4%. This positive trend continued into 2024, reaching $37.1 billion with a 2.2% growth. The most substantial growth occurred in 2025, with a 30.8% surge, driven by tourism and the phosphate industry. This was the strongest annual progression for Morocco during the period studied by Afreximbank and one of the highest growth rates among major African economies that year. Morocco's $48.6 billion in reserves surpassed Nigeria's $46 billion, placing it behind Libya $87.9 billion, South Africa $75.9 billion, Algeria $52 billion, and Egypt $51.4 billion, all major exporters of oil or natural resources. Morocco's reserves represent approximately 9.4% of Africa's total foreign exchange reserves, which stood at $515.2 billion in 2025. Furthermore, Morocco's reserves provide 6.2 months of import cover, up from 5.5 months in 2024, exceeding the international financial institutions' prudential minimum of three months and the continental average of 4.9 months.
Canada has advanced to the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, securing a 1-0 win against South Africa. The decisive goal was scored by Stephen Eust谩quio during added time. In the next stage of the tournament, Canada will face the winner of the match between Morocco and the Netherlands, which is scheduled to take place in Monterrey. Morocco's upcoming match against the Netherlands in the round of 16 brings them back to Mexico, a country with significant football history for the Atlas Lions. Mexico is a co-host of the World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, and has been the setting for notable moments for the Moroccan team.
Mohamed Ouahbi, the coach, stated that the Netherlands will present a different challenge following their successful first round. He emphasized the need to find solutions to the problems the Dutch team will pose. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Sunday for the game scheduled for Monday at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico, Ouahbi affirmed his team's serenity and ambition. He highlighted the players' motivation, confidence, and determination to win, driven by the pride of representing their country. Ouahbi stressed that the greatest motivation is wearing the jersey and representing the nation, which can help them overcome obstacles. He acknowledged the team's responsibility and commitment to give their all for Morocco and its fans. Regarding the favorite status, Ouahbi stated that performance on the field is what matters, noting that Morocco is a respected team globally and must confirm this on the pitch. He warned about the Netherlands' efficiency and mentioned that his team has worked to be more efficient, aiming not to give their opponents opportunities. Ouahbi expects a comprehensive confrontation between two top-10 world football nations, describing it as a total challenge that will not be solely physical, tactical, or technical.