’Arab-flavored World Cup’ gladdens many hearts

Saudi Arabia team line up before their recent match against Portugal. (Reuters)

LISBON: After having only one representative to cheer for at the past two FIFA World Cups, the Arab region will, for the first time, have four countries appearing at next summer’s showpiece in Russia.
Morocco and Tunisia secured qualification to Fifa’s flagship event on Saturday night after cementing top spot in their respective African qualifying groups. The results mean the two nations will join Saudi Arabia, Egypt and 28 others in the World Cup draw to take place on Dec. 1 in Moscow’s Kremlin Palace.
Morocco recorded an impressive 2-0 victory away to Ivory Coast, while Tunisia’s goalless draw at home against the Democratic Republic of Congo was enough to secure their safe passage.
In Abidjan, Nabil Dirar gave Morocco a fortuitous lead on 25 minutes when his cross evaded the head of striker Khalid Boutaib but still ended up in the back of the net. Captain Mehdi Benatia then doubled his country’s lead with a composed finish from a corner. In keeping a clean sheet, Herve Renard’s side ensured they completed qualifying without conceding a goal.
The Morocco coach revealed he received a congratulatory call post-match from King Mohammed VI. “I thank His Majesty for calling me,” said the Frenchman.
“It’s a huge honor. He wanted to talk to us, to pay tribute to everyone. We are proud of the Moroccan shirt, proud that the Moroccan flag returns to the World Cup. This is the fifth qualification, so Morocco is not a small [football] country.”
Mustapha Hadji, who shone during Morocco’s last World Cup outing in 1998 and is now one of Renard’s assistant coaches, had previously spoken of the importance of qualifying, telling The Guardian that, “after Islam, football is our second religion,” adding that “it can make you cry in one second and make you feel in love the next. Politics cannot do that.”
Tunisia’s tense stalemate ensured they remained unbeaten in qualifying and will appear at their first finals since 2006.
It will be the North African’s fifth World Cup outing and they will be keen to improve on a finals record where in 12 games they have managed just one win, a 3-1 victory over Mexico in 1978.
The scenes on the streets of Tunis and Marrakech were reminiscent of those in Cairo when Mohammed Salah scored a penalty in added time to secure Egypt a place in Russia.
The Liverpool forward tweeted on Saturday night that recent results mean next summer will be an “Arab-flavored World Cup.”