2022 World Cup: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Joins list of world leaders congratulating Morocco’s King

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed Ben Salman Ben Abdelaziz Al-Saud, has joined the Heads of State who called King Mohammed VI to congratulate him on the occasion of Morocco’s qualification to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar-2022.

In a phone call, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia expressed to the Sovereign his warm congratulations for this historic achievement which makes Morocco the first Arab and African country to reach this stage in a World Cup.

HM the King received telephone calls from the President of the Republic of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.

Other Arab, African and world leaders have called the Sovereign to congratulate him on the Moroccan team’s achievement. These include King Abdullah II of Jordan, the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.

Other world leaders, including the Presidents of Djibouti, Chad, Senegal, Israel, Turkey, Nigeria and other leaders voiced congratulations in their tweeter accounts.
Similar posts were made by U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, new Twitter boss, billionaire Elon Musk, several Israeli officials, the FIFA and the CAF, the Arab League and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, in addition to several celebrities, intellectuals, journalists…

These leaders have congratulated the King for the achievement of the Moroccan squad which made history by becoming the first team from an African and Arab country to ever qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup.

As put by President Muhammadu Buhari “Morocco has made the entire continent proud with their grit and dexterity, giving hope that an African team can indeed win, and should win the ongoing global championship in Qatar.”

According to Arab sports commentators and analysts, Morocco set the bar so high. Henceforth, Arab and African fans will require from their teams to follow Morocco’s footsteps in the World Cup 2026. Honorary participation or qualification for the last 16 is no longer an option.

The Atlas Lions set the example to be followed. Their achievements were not fortuitous but the outcome of years of serious work and a farsighted comprehensive sports strategy spearheaded by King Mohammed VI.
Walid Regragui’s team combines several stars coming from top European clubs and some key players who have been produced by Mohammed VI Football Academy, set up in 2009.

The success of the Moroccan experience has now become a model prompting the interest of several countries. But the Atlas Lions have a strong defensive structure. They play with rigorous tactical discipline and a zest that has few parallels. It may not be easy to replicate Regragui’s blueprint.

Morocco qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup (Qatar-2022), after beating Portugal by 1 goal to 0, on Saturday at the al-Thumama stadium. They will face France in the semi-final on Wednesday.