Moroccan football team drew 0-0, on Saturday in Rabat, with the Central African Republic on the opening day of the Qualifier (Group D) for the African Cup of Nations (CAN-2012).

The group's other match between Algeria and Tanzania, on Friday in Blida (central Algeria), ended in a one-all draw.

Morocco will play Tanzania on October 8-10.

New Wisla Krakow acquisition Nourdin Boukhari a few years ago once played with stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wesley Sneijder - now he will play in the Ekstraklasa.

The player admits that his former colleagues from across Europe have asked him why he chose to play in Poland of all places.

Boukhari was loaned to Wisla from Turkish side Kasؤ±mpaإںa SK Having hardly played there

Liverpool winger Nabil El Zhar has left the club to join Greek outfit PAOK on a season-long loan.

The 24-year old French-born Morocco international joined the Reds in 2006 but has failed to become a first team regular and has sought the loan deal to gain more game time.

El Zhar has not been used since Roy Hodgson took over at Anfield but he will now get his chance to impress at the top level of Greek football.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has published Dominique Cuperly’s roster for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifier versus the Central African Republic which will be played on September 4.

The Frenchman who is currently filling in for Eric Gerets has given Fettah Boukhris and Youssef El Arabi their first call-ups. Besides that, the squad is practically identical to the one that was assembled for Morocco’s 2-1 win over Equatorial Guinea on August 11.
 

Twice winners CS Sfaxien took a giant step towards a place at the next round with 3-0 win over FUS Rabat of Morocco in the Orange CAF Confederation Cup Group B clash on Saturday in Sfax.

A spectacular second half performance from the 2007 and 2008 winners of the second-tier continental club championship was enough for them to send the Moroccan debutants packing empty.

With Frenchman Pierre Lechantre steering the affairs of the Sfax-based team from the bench, they however failed to capitalise on their dominance in the early stages for the opener.

Rangers will see an even better Adel Taarabt this season now he is no longer just a loan player, according to Fitz Hall.

The Moroccan midfielder has scored twice in as many games as Rangers have enjoyed a flying start to the season, and the QPR skipper is sure it is a sign of things to come.

“When he was on loan, sometimes the fans would get onto his back," Hall said.

FUS Rabat of Morocco have taken an early lead in Group B of the African Confederation Cup after beating Zambia's Zanaco 1-0 on Saturday.

Mohammed Benchrifa got the only goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half.
 
 
In Saturday's other match, AS FAN of Niger were held to a goalless draw at home by Djoliba of Mali.
 

QPR have completed the signing of Tottenham misfit Adel Taarabt for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1million.

The Morocco international spent last season on loan at Loftus Road and has agreed a three-year deal with the npower Championship side.

Taarabt, 21, arrived at Spurs from Lens for £3m in 2007 but he made just nine Premier League appearances for the club.
 

Marouane Chamakh is perhaps still in the process of convincing Arsenal supporters of his worth but singling out Chelsea as the side he wants to beat above all others will do his popularity no harm.

The 26-year-old's former club Bordeaux were humbled 4-0 at Stamford Bridge in September 2008 on an awful night for the French side.

Arsenal's record against the Blues is in desperate need of a boost with only two wins from their last 17 matches

Moroccan national football team will play Equatorial Guinea a friendly match on August 11 in Rabat.

This match is part of the Atlas Lions' preparations for the qualifiers of the African Cup of Nations (CAN-2012), to be organized jointly by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Morocco's opening game in the group D, which includes also Tanzania and Algeria, will be against Central Africa, next September in Rabat.

Belgian Eric Gerets was officially appointed, on Monday, coach of Morocco, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said.

French Dominique Cuperly was appointed coach assistant, the FRMF announced on its website.

Gerets, 54, will be tasked with improving the national team's performance in order to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Moroccan people, the same source added.

QPR boss Neil Warnock took the extraordinary step of flying to Morocco this week in a bid to persuade Adel Taarabt his future is at Rangers.

Warnock is braving the 35-degree heat and 3,000-mile round-trip to Marrakesh to meet the midfielder in his own country following his succession of eye-catching performances last season.

The 21-year-old joined Rs on-loan for the second time last August from Tottenham.

Adel Taarabt is set to talk to hold talks with Tottenham Hotspur as he eyes his departure from White Hart Lane.

The former QPR loanee is still a reported interest for manager Neil Warnock, but more recent interest is coming from Spain and France, as well as Premier League West Ham United.

Taarabt - who has already expressed his desire to leave Tottenham - told the Daily Mail that Villarreal are interested in him, while recognising his improvement in W12.
 

Former France manager Henri Michel will take charge of Moroccan side Raja Casablanca next season for the second time after signing a one-year renewable contract, a club statement said.

Michel won the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup with Raja in 2003. He also had two spells as Morocco's national coach, during which he took them to the 1998 World Cup in his native France.

New Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh insists the best is yet to come after his switch to the Emirates.

The Moroccan international has arrived on a free transfer after winning the 2009 French title and two French League Cups with Bordeaux.

But he believes Gunners fans will see the best of him as he matures under Arsene Wenger.

Morocco tied, on Sunday in Sousse, with Tunisia 1-1 in the first leg of their qualifying game to the African Nations Championship for locally-based players (CHAN 2011).

The Moroccan squad was more aggressive and managed to open the scoring as early as the first minute through Raja Casablanca’s striker Yassine Salhi, who was among the three leading goal scorers in this season’s Moroccan football league.

Arsenal Football Club announced on Friday that Moroccan international striker Marouane Chamakh has joined the Gunners on a long-term contract.

Former Hibs forward Abdesallam Benjelloun has quickly found a new club after being released by the Edinburgh club. Benji, as he is commonly known, was one of five players released by the Easter Road club last week.

The player has signed a two year deal with German side Greuther Furth, with an option to extend the deal by a further year. Former Moroccan international Rachid Azzuzi is director at football at the Bundesliga II club.

Wydad Casablanca (WAC) on Saturday won the title of Morocco's premier football league following a 1-0 victory over FUS Rabat in the last day of the championship.

This is the 12th title for the team. The latest goes back to four years ago.

Wydad owes a lot to its opponent Raja Casablanca which could not do better than a 1-0 defeat against FAR Rabat. Raja had more chances to get the title, as it had one point ahead of WAC.

Raja Casablanca regained leadership of Morocco's Premier League (Botola) to keep the thrill alive until the last day of the 2009-2010 season, which will take place next weekend.

Raja managed to lead the league following a hard but important 3-2 win before its guest Olympic Safi, raising its points to 52, while Safi has got closer than any time before to leave the Premier League.

RSC Anderlecht's Mbark Boussoufa has been voted Belgium's Footballer of the Year for the second season in succession and third time overall by the country's top-flight players.

Mbark Boussoufa has retained his crown as Belgium's Professional Footballer of the Year after being honoured for the second season in succession by his peers in the country's top flight.
 

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has all but confirmed that he will be joining Arsenal in the summer.

The 26-year-old Morocco international is out of contract at the end of the season and will reportedly move to the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer in June.

Chamakh has been with Les Girondins since 2000 and his goals helped them to the Ligue 1 title last term as well as an excellent run in the UEFA Champions League this year.

The Moroccan international footballer M'bark Boussoufa won, for the second consecutive year and the 3rd time in his credit, the Ebony Boot award, the top African football prize in Belgium.

Boussoufa has become the first player to win three times this prize. Anderlecht’s midfielder was awarded the prize in 2006 and 2009.

During the awarding ceremony, held on Monday evening in Brussels, the Moroccan player said he was "very honored" to receive this prize.
 

Morocco's House of Representatives (lower house) passed on Tuesday a draft law completing the penal code legislation on violence acts during sports events.

In the 108th derby of Morocco's Premier League, Raja Casablanca scored a sole goal to overthrow Wydad from leadership and took the reins of the League.

In a breathtaking game with much at stake as the winner goes to the top position, the two soccer poles of Casablanca clashed in the midfield, creating few goal opportunities and demonstrating an average show.
 

Mounir El Hamdaoui has admitted he would welcome the opportunity to return to English football.

The Moroccan striker is currently on the books of Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar and has made quite a name for himself during his time in Holland.

An enviable strike rate has drawn admiring glances from afar, with interest said to be mounting ahead of the summer.

Dutch coach Pim Verbeek will work with Morocco's national youth sides after he has lead Australia at the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Verbeek's new job will see him take responsibility for the Moroccan Olympic Team as well the under-17 and under-19 sides.

Dynamo Kiev defender Badr El Kaddouri has confirmed his desire to join Paris St Germain next season.

The Moroccan, who has been at Kiev since 2002, issued a statement saying he had been in talks with recruitment officer Alain Roche about a possible move to Parc des Princes.

El Kaddouri was full of admiration for Roche, admitting that it was he who made his mind up about moving to the French capital.
 

Morocco striker Youssouf Hadji will be out for three weeks after picking up an ankle ligament injury.

The 30-year-old, who plays for French side Nancy, suffered the setback during Saturday's Ligue 1 game against Bordeaux.

He underwent a scan on Tuesday and will now miss crucial league games with Auxerre and Rennes.

Hibernian received a blow yesterday when they learned that influential midfielder Merouane Zemmama is poised to miss the remainder of the season as he tries to recover from a knee injury.

The Moroccan suffered the cruciate ligament problem during Saturday's 3-1 win over Falkirk, and after assessment by club medical staff it appears his season is over.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Sunday inaugurated the Mohammed VI Football Academy built at a cost of about 16.8 million USD at Sala al Jadida, near Rabat.

Built on an 18-hectare site, the academy aims to contribute to identifying and training future footballing talent in the country by setting up an educational system combining sports and study.

This system offers a football career for students aged 12 to 18 or, if need be, the possibility to pursue normal studies in other institutions.

Substitute Nabil Baha climbed off the bench to fire lowly Malaga to a much-needed victory over Villarreal at La Rosaleda.

With the game goalless, Baha was given his chance in the 53rd minute and he responded with both of his side's goals as the Andalusian outfit ended a run of three successive defeats with a deserved triumph.

Angola’s first division team of football and national champion, Petro de Luanda, drew 1-1 on Sunday in Casablanca (Morocco), with local Raja.

The game was a first leg match of the second qualifiers for African Cups Winners Cup.

With this result, Petro stand good chances for the second leg match within 15 days in Luanda.

Highly-rated Belgium youth international Mehdi Lazaar has been cleared to play for Burnley by the Football Association.

The 17-year-old, whose father played for Morocco, signed a two-year scholarship deal in January but has been waiting for clearance.

He played for Ghent, Standard Liege and Royal Racing FC Montegnee in Belgium.

Fifa has rubbished reports that Holland youth international Nordin Amrabat has been cleared to play for Morocco.

The purported international switch was widely reported in Morocco last week.

But football's world governing body has dismissed the claim insisting the 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven player has not applied to play for Morocco.

Taarabt was on target from the spot in the 36th minute to help fire his side to a second successive victory that maintains Neil Warnock's 100 per cent record as QPR's new boss.

The Moroccan then set up Damion Stewart for Rangers' second to seal three points that eased the Londoners' relegation worries.

Warnock was delighted with the contribution of the on-loan Tottenham player and backed him to make an impact at his parent club

Abdessalam Benjelloun insists he is not fretting about his Hibernian future, despite not yet being offered a contract extension by the club.

The 25-year-old's current deal expires in less than four months' time and there have been no formal moves from Hibs to extend the popular forward's stay at Easter Road.

But he said: "I never worry, never worry in football.

Morocco will play Tunisia on May 22 or 23 in the first leg of the qualifiers for the 2nd African Nations Championship (CHAN-2011), which will take place in Sudan.

Algerian Mohamed Bichari will officiate this game, which will take place in Sousse.

The second leg game, slated for June 6th, will be officiated by Libyan Wahid Timouni.

The Moroccan teams participating at the African football competitions qualified for the next round following their outstanding performance.

Despite a 1-1 draw at home, Raja Casablanca (title holder in 1989, 97 and 99) made it through to the next round of the African Champions League thanks to a 3-1 win in Guina against local team Fello Star.

Head of Morocco's football federation Ali Fassi Fihri has denied rumours saying that contacts have been made with the French coach Luis Fernandez to lead the Moroccan National Team.

"No negotiations have taken place" with Luis Fernandez, Fassi Fihri told the Moroccan biweekly sports paper "Al Mountakhab".

Controversial Moroccan defender Youssef Rabeh has gone missing from his new club, Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, his agent and a team mate said on Tuesday.

Rabeh moved to the Russian Premier League newcomers two weeks ago from Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia, who said they still wanted the transfer fee from Anzhi despite the player's disappearance.

"I'm shocked, I've talked to his family and they also have no idea where he is," said Nikolay Zheynov, one of Rabeh's agents. "He stabbed us in the back."

Olympiacos striker Jaouad Zairi is adamant Bordeaux will pose a significant threat in Tuesday night's Champions League encounter in Athens.

Les Girondins have not looked at their formidable best in recent games although they still lead the way in the Ligue 1 table.

And they can at least point to wins in their last two games as evidence they are back on track.

Morocco defender Abdeslam Ouaddou has announced he is retiring from international football to concentrate on his club commitments.

The 31-year-old, who made his international debut in 2000, won 60 caps for the Atlas Lions.

Ouaddou, a member of the side that reached the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations final, said that it had been a difficult decision to take.

The draw for the qualifiers of the 2012 African Cup of Nations, which took place on Saturday in Lubumbashi (RD Congo), put Morocco and Algeria in group 4 along with Tanzania and the central African republic.

Forty-four countries were drawn into 11 groups of four teams which will compete for the 14 spots. The winner of each group will qualify for the tournament that will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Raja Casablanca returned victorious from Guinea trashing Fello Star 3-1 in Conakry as part of the first leg of the CAF Champions League's preliminary round.

Raja, holder of the 1989, 1997 and 1999 CAF Champions League titles, opened the score 12 minutes into the game thanks to Omar Najdi, before Senegalese Pape Cire Dia doubled the score in the second half.

Fello Star's defender Ngong scored against his net (77th minutes), before his team-mate Omar Alfa scored the only goal for the Guinean team in the additional time.

Wydad Casablanca tied 1-1 with AS Salé to maintain the leadership of Morocco's Premier League.

AS Salé opened the scoring at the 47th minute through Ivorian Ibrahima Watara, before Wydad equalized through Congolese Lys Mouitys at the 60th minute.

Wydad maintained leadership with 37 points, three points ahead of Difaa El Jadida, whose game against FAR Rabat was postponed for its participation in the African Champions League.

Abdesslam Benjelloun is increasingly upbeat about Hibernian's chances of playing in Europe next season – but is unsure if he will still be with the club then.

The Moroccan striker, who came off the bench to score the equaliser from the penalty spot against Aberdeen on Wednesday night, is out of contract at the end of the season. He said after that 2-2 draw that he is happy at Easter Road and wants to stay, but admitted he had not had any talks yet with the club about an extension.
 

Arsenal were closing in on the signature of Marouane Chamakh last night after the Bordeaux striker’s proposed move to Liverpool collapsed amid some acrimony.

Liverpool believed they had moved ahead of their rivals, who also include Inter Milan and West Ham United, in the race for Chamakh by offering the Morocco player a lucrative pre-contract agreement during intensive talks with his advisers early last month.

Wydad Casablanca took advantage of the first defeat in the season of the Difaa El Jadida to jump to leadership with two points ahead of Difaa.

Wydad defeated Moghreb Fez thanks to a goal of the Congolese newcomer, Junior Moukoko, who, just like his countryman Lys Mouitys, seems to be a good deal for Wydad.

Moroccan international player Mehdi Benatia, central defender of the Second Division French Football club of Clermont, signed a five-year contract with the Italian club Udinese, which runs until 2014.

Tracked by several clubs, the 22-year-old defender picked Udinese as his next stop, but he will first finish the season with Clermont before joining the Calcio next summer.

"I seized the opportunity. It is a good club despite their current standing in the Calcio" Benatia told the press.

Morocco will host on May 9-15 the 1st U-17 African Youth Games.

The announcement was made during the signing ceremony of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between Morocco's Youth ministry, The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Moroccan National Olympic Committee.

The U-17 African Youth Games will bring together 1200 African athletes representing 53 national Olympic committees in Africa to compete in 14 individual and team sports.

The Moroccan football federation (FRMF) will name a new coach to lead the national football team before June 2009, FRMF's President Ali Fassi Fihri said on Monday.

In an exclusive interview with MAP, Fassi Fihri said the federation will wait until the end of international football leagues before contracting with an internationally renowned coach.

Wydad Casablanca closed the gap with Fall champion Difaa El Jadida to one point in the 16th day of Morocco's premier league to continue its race towards the title.

Wydad Casablanca swept to an impressive 1-3 win against Jeunesse Massira which suffered its last spot with 11 points while the premier league leader Difaa El Jadida could only draw 0-0 at home with Olympique Khouribga (OCK).

Former Saudi League champions Al Ittihad returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win against Al Wahda in a postponed match from round six of the league.

The win secured Al Ittihad's place in the 2011 AFC Champions League as they strengthened their position in third place with 39 points while Al Wahda suffered their seventh defeat this season.

Moroccan striker Hicham Aboucherouane gave Al Ittihad the lead after 37 minutes although Al Wahda should have levelled the scores in the 59th minute but Mohannad Assiri missed a penalty.

Adel Taarabt admits there is no chance of him staying at Loftus Road next season while he has criticised former boss Paul Hart.

Taarabt, on loan from Spurs, has vowed to do his best to get QPR to the Championship play-offs but that will be it as far as the Morrocan is concerned.

He has also lifted the lid on his reported bust-up with Hart which it has been claimed contributed to the former Portsmouth boss' departure after just four weeks.

Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia again suspended the controversial Youssef Rabeh and suggested the Morocco international's days at the club were numbered.

Local media reported the defender had been spotted drinking late at a nightclub during Levski's training camp in the Black Sea town of Kavarna.

"I can't say a bad word about his football qualities but there's no place for him at Levski from now on," coach Georgi Ivanov said. "He has exhausted his limit.

Barcelona are set to enter the scramble to sign Marouane Chamakh.

The Moroccan international is in the final six months of his contract at Bordeaux, and he is certain to leave the French club at the end of the season.

Arsenal and West Ham United wanted to take him in the summer but couldn’t agree a deal with the Ligue 1 champions, whilst his performances in Europe this term have attracted more interest.

Difa EL Jadida secured the symbolic fall champion title - winner of the season's first half - with a victory on Saturday against Wydad Casablanca.

Nineteen minutes into the first half, Lys Mouithys opened the scoring for Wydad Casablanca which dominated the first half. Lagged one goal, Difaa El Jadida started the second half with a series of attacks that paid off at the 71st minute through Adil Karouchi. The hosts doubled the score six minutes later through Pape Latyr, the best striker in the league.

Liverpool are confident of seeing off fierce competition for Marouane Chamakh and agreeing a deal to sign him on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Bordeaux's Morocco striker has confided to friends that he sees his future in England, when his contract runs out in the summer, and talks have already taken place over making Anfield his new home.

Arsenal have been tracking him for months and Tottenham are also keen

Morocco will present its bid to host the African Cup of Nations 2016, Minister of Youth and Sports, Moncef Belkhayat, said on Tuesday.

Morocco's national football team will certainly rise to the challenge of the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup, Belkhayat said at the House of Advisors' question time.

To meet this objective, we need to have a strict coach who can choose freely and has an effectively management policy