Qatar 2022 World Cup: Morocco's team arrives to Doha amid high hopes of a historic win

The delegation of the Moroccan national soccer team arrived Sunday evening in Qatar, to compete in the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup scheduled to start on 20 this month.

At Hamad International Airport, Mohamed Setri, the Moroccan ambassador to Qatar, welcomed his country team, along with other diplomats in the capital of Doha.

"The delegation of the national team includes seven players, namely Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Yahya Attiatallah, Yahya Jabrane, Munir El Kajoui, Selim Amallah, Jaouad El Yamiq, Azzedine Ounah," reported Morocco's state-news-agency Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) on Monday.

Nineteen other players will soon join once they finish their commitments with their international football clubs.

Moroccan fans have reportedly headed to the team's residence in Doha where they chanted for a very-much-wanted victory for the 'Atlas Lions'.

A massive North African diaspora in Qatar is expected to fill stands to cheer the team on during FIFA World Cup.

Last week, Morocco's coach Walid Regragui announced his chosen squad with Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech and PSG's Achraf Hakimi as the star players among the 26 others.

Ahead of the World cup, the Atlas Lions will head first to the UAE to play their last friendly match with Georgia on Thursday, 17 November.

On 23 November, Morocco will kick off their World Cup against 2018 runners-up Croatia in Group F before facing Belgium four days later and Canada on 1 December.

Commentators say the Moroccan team must be at the top of their game to perform in the competition. Their first and last knockout round appearance was in 1986.

Under the new leadership of  Walid Regragui, 45-time former Moroccan international and CAF Champions League-winning coach, hopes are high that the Moroccan team will repeat history in this Cup.

Morocco's National Company of Radio and Television (SNRT) has announced that it obtained the rights to broadcast 10 matches, including the national team's games during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.