Driss El Moutaqi, coach of the Moroccan national five-a-side blind football team, confirmed that his team is ready and determined to achieve a positive result in their opening match against Argentina, the current World Cup holders, as part of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
El Moutaqi told the Maghreb Arab Press Agency after the team’s final training session: “The players are enthusiastic and determined to go far in this competition. We have continued our training since arriving in Paris, and we are ready to take on the challenge and honor the kingdom.”
The coach added that winning the opening match would have a significant positive impact on the team’s morale, giving them the necessary confidence for the rest of the tournament. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter, given the strength of the Argentine team, which is ranked second globally after Brazil.
El Moutaqi pointed out the strength of the group Morocco is competing in, which also includes Japan and Colombia, the recent winner of the international league in France. He also reported that the team is in good health, with the exception of minor injuries to players El Hammouchi and El Hattab, with expectations that the latter will be ready for the match.
It’s worth noting that the Moroccan team aims to improve on their historic achievement at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where they won the bronze medal. This time, they are aiming for the top of the podium in Paris 2024.