Club World Cup: Auckland City Look to Moroccan Support in Quarter-Final Clash with ES Sétif
By BBC Sport | FIFA Club World Cup – Rabat
Auckland City FC are brimming with confidence ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Algeria’s ES Sétif this Saturday in Rabat — and they’re counting on an unexpected ally to help push them through: the Moroccan crowd.
The New Zealanders stunned the hosts Moghreb Athletic Tétouan earlier in the tournament, holding their nerve in a tense penalty shootout in front of a passionate home crowd. That result not only secured their place in the last eight but also earned them a surprising wave of support from local fans — support they now hope will carry over into tonight’s showdown with the North African champions.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Auckland City captain Ivan Vicelich acknowledged the regional dynamics at play.
“We all know there is a rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, and this could be useful to us during our match against ESS,” Vicelich told reporters. “We hope the Moroccan fans come out in force to support us. It would be fantastic to play in front of more than 30,000 spectators who are all behind us.”
Vicelich, who was named man of the match in the victory over Tétouan, said the team is riding a wave of motivation.
“We are having a great time at this World Cup, especially after our win in the play-off. That result gives us even more drive to achieve our dream,” the veteran defender said.
Auckland City, a semi-professional team from Oceania, are once again embracing their underdog status — a familiar role for a club that has made a habit of upsetting expectations in previous editions of the tournament. But their next challenge is a significant one: overcoming an ES Sétif side making their Club World Cup debut as CAF Champions League winners.
“Of course, ESS is better than MAT, whom we faced in the first match,” Vicelich admitted. “But we’ll do everything to make sure our joy lasts as long as possible.”
The match promises to be a fascinating tactical battle, with Sétif expected to bring physicality and attacking flair, while Auckland look to remain compact and strike on the counter — buoyed, perhaps, by local support that may turn the atmosphere in their favour.
Kick-off is set for Saturday evening in Rabat, with a place in the semi-finals — and a date with one of the tournament’s elite clubs — on the line.
