Morocco begin their U17 World Cup journey against Japan on Monday afternoon at Stadium 5 of the Aspire Zone in Doha.
The match kicks off at 2:30 PM GMT and will air live on Arryadia TNT and beIN Sports Xtra 1 HD.
Head coach Nabil Baha expressed strong confidence ahead of the team’s opening fixture.
He said Morocco’s consistent achievements in recent years have established the country as a leading football nation.
“Our results in Africa and abroad have made Morocco a great nation of football,” he stated.
Baha revealed that the Atlas Cubs spent a week in the United Arab Emirates to prepare for the tournament.
The team played two friendlies against Venezuela and Switzerland to adjust to conditions before arriving in Qatar.
He acknowledged Japan’s quality but insisted Morocco are ready. “It will be a difficult match,” Baha said.
“Winning the Africa Cup at home gave us experience. Now, we must show our progress on the field.”
The coach said the U20 team’s World Cup victory motivates his players.
“It gives us good pressure and belief,” he noted. “We will take each game one at a time.”
Forward Eliess Saidi shared his determination to make a winning start. “Our main goal is to win this first match,” he said.
Midfielder Hamza Bouhadi added, “The first game is always important, and we are ready to deliver a positive result.”
The U17 World Cup, running from November 3 to 27 in Qatar, features 48 teams in 12 groups.
The top two from each group and the eight best third-placed sides progress to the round of 32.
Morocco aim to continue their continental momentum on the world stage.
