Morocco's Tariq Sektoui Hits Triple Milestone as Arab Cup Semifinals Beckon

Historic night in Doha as Morocco advances to the Arab Cup semi-finals

Tariq Sektoui, the Moroccan coach involved in the Arab Cup, delivered another milestone by steering his team to the semi-finals of the tournament in a match that combined grit and flair.

The Atlas Lions edged Syria 1-0 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, opening the quarterfinals with a late winner.

Walid Azaro struck in the 79th minute, steering home a follow-up after a shot from Munir Shuyair, in a game that also saw Syrian goalkeeper Ilias Hdaia produce several standout stops and a Morocco red card in stoppage time for Mohammed Mefid.

Sektoui now becomes the first Moroccan coach to reach the semi-finals in three different competitions in a row under Morocco's banner.

Three milestones in 18 months

Earlier in his career, Sektoui led a Moroccan team at the Paris Olympics, reaching the semi-finals and earning bronze—the first Arab team to win bronze in that event in 2024.

He later guided the local Moroccan squad to CHAN glory in Kenya last summer, and in the current Arab Cup edition he has matched his previous feats by delivering another run to the semi-finals.

Overall, Sektoui has now coached three different Moroccan teams in just 18 months: the Olympic U-23 team, the local side, and the senior national team.

Punchlines:

Punchline 1: If coaching were a sniper rifle, Sektoui just scored a headshot on complacency.

Punchline 2: Three semi-finals in 18 months? Even his tactical board is filing for overtime.