Cymru and Africa (pt.5) – Morocco
Tunisia? Check. Cote D’Ivoire? Check. Gambia and Egypt? Check. Zimbabwe, Guinea and Eritrea? Check Now it’s Morocco’s turn
Morocco
The darlings of Qatar 2022 were one of several unfancied to light up the World Cup with positive and daring football (in stark contrast to Wales….) and are among the favourites to win AFCON 2023 and add to their solitary victory in 1976.
In 2019 the Moroccan FA appointed persuaded Osian Roberts to sever his ties with the FAW and installed him as Technical Director – a role he’d had with Wales – on a five year contract.
A year into the job Roberts claimed to have “fallen in love” with Morocco, and spoke of work he’d overseen with the women’s and girls’ game in the country, its regional leagues, and coach education. Just shy of two years into the job he resigned and rocked up at Crystal Palace as Patrick Viera’s assistant. Sacked 19 months later, Roberts is now interim manager at Como in the lower half of Serie B.
Though he splits opinion among Wales fans, John Toshack has a pretty solid reputation at club level and has won silverware in five of the nine countries he has coached in. One of which is Morocco where he spent two years between 2014 and 2016 as head coach of Casablanca-based Wydad AC, arguably Morocco’s biggest club.
Toshack’s impact was immediate. Having finished the previous season in a lowly – for them at least – sixth place in the Moroccan championship, the Botola, Toshack led Wydad to the title, three points clear of second place and qualified for the African Champions League. Toshack was also named Manager of the Season.
The following year with expectations raised and a continental cup run anticipated, an early season 3-0 drubbing to bitter rivals Raja Casablanca saw Toshack come under pressure for the first time. He steadied the ship domestically and made progress in the Champions League navigating Wydad through preliminary ties against teams from Niger, Madagascar, DR Congo and then topping their group. But a runners up finish in the Botola increased the pressure on Toshack and after a 4-0 first leg semi final defeat to Egyptian side Zamalek he was dismissed. A few days later Wydad fought back to level the tie 5-5 on aggregate before a late goal saw Zamalek through to the final where they lost to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.
A final Welsh ingredient in this Moroccan tagine comes from Whitchurch via Canada. Paul James won schoolboy honours for Wales and was on the books of Newport County before emigrating to Canada with his parents. He went on to become a key midfield presence for his adopted nation during their mid 80s ‘golden’ era when they made their World Cup bow in Mexico 86. James had scored a crucial equaliser in the qualifying campaign but had opened his account two years previously
Canada’s domestic league had folded, leaving many of the squad unemployed so the national team decided to pretty much play anyone, anytime, anywhere – the Martini of international football – in the quest for income. For example, in a two week spell in October 1984 Canada travelled to Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Cyprus and Egypt. James scored in the Morocco game, a 2-3 friendly defeat in Rabat.
Marouane Chamakh made two substitute appearances for Cardiff City in 2016 after playing for Bordeaux, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and, on loan, West Ham. Chamakh won 63 caps (18 goals) for his parents’ homeland after making his debut in 2003. He played in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including the 2004 tournament in which Morocco finished as runners-up.
