2014 FIFA Club World Cup Kicks Off in Morocco with African Hopefuls in the Spotlight
The 2014 FIFA Club World Cup officially kicks off this Wednesday in Morocco, marking the second consecutive year the North African country has hosted the global tournament. This year, Africa is represented by two clubs: Entente Sportive de Sétif, the reigning CAF Champions League winners, and Moghreb Athletic de Tétouan (MAT), Moroccan league champions and tournament hosts.
MAT to Open Tournament Against Auckland City
The opening match will see MAT face New Zealand’s Auckland City in a preliminary round encounter on December 10 in Rabat. MAT, despite being relatively unknown internationally, will aim to replicate the extraordinary run of Raja Casablanca last year, who reached the final before falling to Bayern Munich.
MAT coach Aziz El Amri expressed caution ahead of the clash:
“This New Zealand team plays Latin football with good tactical layout and short, linked passes. It’s a beautiful game, which will cause us a lot of problems.”
Former Raja forward Mouhssine Iajour, now with MAT, will bring valuable experience to the squad.
Entente Sétif Await in Quarter-Finals
The winner of the MAT-Auckland City match will face Entente de Sétif on December 13, also in Rabat. The Algerian champions are hoping to follow in the footsteps of African sides like TP Mazembe and Raja Casablanca, who both reached the final in past editions.
European and South American Giants Join Later
Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League winners) and San Lorenzo (Copa Libertadores champions) enter the tournament at the semi-final stage, scheduled for December 16 and 17 in Marrakech and Rabat.
🗓 Club World Cup 2014 Schedule
Preliminary Round
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🗓 December 10 (Rabat):
Moghreb Tétouan vs Auckland City
Quarter-Finals (December 13, Rabat):
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Winner MAT/Auckland City vs Entente de Sétif
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Cruz Azul vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Semi-Finals
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🗓 December 16 (Marrakech): Winner Cruz Azul/Wanderers vs Real Madrid
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🗓 December 17 (Rabat): Winner MAT/Auckland/Sétif vs San Lorenzo
Fifth Place Match
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🗓 December 17 (Marrakech)
Final & 3rd Place Match
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🗓 December 20 (Marrakech)
The 2014 edition promises to be as thrilling as ever, with Africa dreaming of another historic run.
