Tarik Haidar offers his thanks to Morocco's World Cup heroes. Ali Al Shouk/ The National
Tarik Haidar offers his thanks to Morocco's World Cup heroes. Ali Al Shouk/ The National
Tarik Haidar offers his thanks to Morocco's World Cup heroes. Ali Al Shouk/ The National
Tarik Haidar offers his thanks to Morocco's World Cup heroes. Ali Al Shouk/ The National

World Cup

Morocco fans hail World Cup heroes for 'bringing happiness to our hearts'

The Atlas Lions became the first team representing the Arab world to make the semi-finals

Ali Al Shouk
Ali Al Shouk

December 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Morocco fans have hailed their national side as 'champions of the tournament' after their history-making run to the World Cup semi-finals.

The Atlas Lions ended their remarkable journey with defeat to Croatia in the third-place play-off on Saturday.

But their passionate supporters believe their giant-killing exploits, in which they saw off Belgium, Spain and Portugal, have been a source of pride for all of Africa and the Arab world.

The Qatar World Cup has shown Morocco to be a hotbed of football, and the country aims to capitalise on its time in the spotlight with its hosting of next year's Club World Cup.

Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, and Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli fight for the ball during their World Cup match at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. AP
Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, and Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli fight for the ball during their World Cup match at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. AP
Luka Modric of Croatia controls the ball during the match against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Wednesday. Getty
Luka Modric of Croatia controls the ball during the match against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Wednesday. Getty
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou makes a save. AP
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou makes a save. AP
Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, and Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar. AP
Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, and Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar. AP
Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic deflects the ball. AP
Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic deflects the ball. AP
Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui talks to his team during. AP
Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui talks to his team during. AP
Croatia's Borna Sosa fights for the ball with Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri. Reuters
Croatia's Borna Sosa fights for the ball with Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri. Reuters
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou dives for the ball. AFP
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou dives for the ball. AFP
Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco is stretchered off the pitch. Getty
Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco is stretchered off the pitch. Getty

“I’m thankful for what Morocco has achieved in the World Cup. We are now part of World Cup history,” said Morocco fan Rachid Bellaziz outside Khalifa City Stadium, the venue for the team's 2-1 loss to the Croatians.

The 26-year-old felt it was a game too far for players drained by their thrilling achievements during the festival of football.

“We became popular in the world as the first Arabic and African team to qualify for the semi-final. We have young players who will be aiming for a better result in the next World Cup.

“I feel that we are the champion of the tournament.”

Fans remain in full voice

Wafaa Daoui believes Morocco can challenge for the World Cup again in 2026. Photo: Ali Al Shouk / The National
Wafaa Daoui believes Morocco can challenge for the World Cup again in 2026. Photo: Ali Al Shouk / The National

Supporters were chanting “Morocco, Morocco” after the match and sang from the journey to the stadium to the metro before gathering at Souq Waqif to celebrate late into the night.

Wafaa Daoui believes Morocco can be a title contender once more at World Cup 2026, which will be held across the US, Mexico and Canada.

“It is a historic victory. We wished we could reach the final match or third place, but in the next World Cup, we will be there as candidates to win the title. We are proud that Morocco united all Arab nations who supported us,” said Ms Daoui.

“Proud of them, that’s how I feel tonight. They brought happiness to our hearts. I never had such a feeling in my life.”

She said the class of 2022 will be role models for future generations of Moroccan footballers.

Tarik Haidar, a Sudanese fan who travelled from Dubai to Doha to support Morocco, carried a placard with a mesage to the players saying: ‘Thank you heroes for the great tournament. From Sudan.’

“I watched four matches for Morocco in this World Cup. They made us proud and I felt I should come to support them,” said the 34-year-old fan.

“Despite losing to France and Croatia they were fighters and we supported them till the end.”

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GROUPS AND FIXTURES

Group A
UAE, Italy, Japan, Spain

Group B
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Tuesday
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Timeline

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September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

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Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

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Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

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November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Racecard

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9pm: Umm Al Quwain - The Entisar - Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 2,000m

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Profile of MoneyFellows

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Employees: 76

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Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund

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Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

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New schools in Dubai

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf

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Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

MATCH INFO

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Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')

Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight

Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.

Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.

Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.

“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.

Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.

Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.

However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.

With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.

In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.

The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.  

The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.

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MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE

TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Keep it fun and engaging

Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.

“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.

His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.

He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Updated: December 18, 2022, 9:29 AM
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