Morocco’s African Cup qualifier postponed in wake of deadly earthquake

AGADIR, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s qualifying recreation for the African Cup of Nations was postponed on Saturday within the wake of the earthquake that struck the nation, killing greater than 1,000 individuals.

Morocco had been scheduled to play Liberia in Agadir on the nation’s western coast, however the Moroccan soccer federation stated the sport had been postponed indefinitely after an settlement with the Confederation of African Football.

The earthquake that struck late Friday evening additionally broken buildings from villages within the Atlas Mountains to the historic metropolis of Marrakech.

Agadir is roughly 170 kilometres (105 miles) southwest of the epicentre of Friday’s tremor close to the city of Ighil in Al Haouz Province.

The Gambian nationwide workforce was in Marrakesh through the earthquake forward of a decisive qualifying recreation in opposition to Congo on Sunday. Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet instructed BBC World Service that he initially thought an airplane had crashed into the workforce’s resort.

“It seems it was only 30 seconds but it felt endless. It was really scary,” Saintfiet stated. “The walls were really shaking and things were falling down from the ceiling and the walls. I never in my life saw a building moving like that. When it stopped, I started running and checking if my team members were also out of their rooms.”

No workforce members had been reported injured.

Marrakech was internet hosting the sport due to stadium issues in Gambia. CAF didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail in regards to the standing of Sunday’s match.

Morocco star participant Achraf Hakimi took to social media to supply his condolences to victims of the earthquake.

“It is time to help each other to save as many lives as possible. My condolences to all who lost a loved one,” Hakimi wrote on Instagram.

The magnitude-6.8 quake was the most important to hit the North African nation in 120 years.

On Friday morning, the Morocco workforce arrived in Agadir after which skilled at Adrar Stadium within the afternoon.

The Atlas Lions made a historic run eventually 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar, changing into the primary African workforce to succeed in the semifinals, the place they misplaced to France.

Morocco has already certified for the 24-team African event, which begins in January in Ivory Coast.

The workforce was additionally scheduled to play a pleasant match in France in opposition to Burkina Faso on Tuesday.