Moroccan boxer Widad Bertal was crowned world champion in the women’s bantamweight, showcasing the country’s surging talent in the combat sport.
Widad Bertal, one of Morocco’s rising boxing stars, is a world champion after winning the women’s bantamweight category at the 2025 IBA World Boxing Championships in Serbia. Meanwhile, the Palestinian squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to be held this month has been revealed through a touching video, showcasing life in the devastated Gaza Strip.
Also in Morocco, underdogs RS Berkane were crowned league champions after a near-undefeated run in the 2024/2025 soccer season.
Moroccan boxer Widad Bertal crowned world champion at Women’s World Boxing Championships
Moroccan boxer Widad Bertal has claimed the World Champion title in the 52-54 kg weight category at the Women’s World Boxing Championships, held in Nis, Serbia, from 9 to 16 March 2025, after defeating Turkish competitor Hatice Bektas.
Bertal’s victory cements her status as one of the sport’s rising stars. She previously secured gold medals at the African Championships in Yaoundé in 2023 and Kinshasa in 2024, establishing herself as a dominant force in the ring.
Her latest triumph represents a major achievement for Moroccan boxing on the global stage.
Morocco’s success in Serbia did not end there. Fellow Moroccan boxer Hasnae Larti added to the country’s medal haul by winning bronze in the 75-81 kg weight category, further highlighting Morocco’s growing strength in women’s boxing.
The achievements of Bertal and Larti reflect Morocco’s rising prominence in international boxing competitions . Their success has drawn praise from sports officials and fans alike, who see them as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the country.
In recognition of her remarkable victory, King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to Bertal, celebrating her world title triumph.
“We share with you, with great joy, feelings of pride in this well-deserved victory that crowned your perseverance and ambition to raise your country’s flag high on the podium and inscribe your name in the register of champions,” the King’s message read.
“We pray to God to grant you continued success and brilliance in your upcoming competitions.”
Palestinian World Cup qualifier squad revealed in touching Gaza video
The Palestinian Football Association unveiled their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers via a video highlighting Israel’s devastating war on Gaza, and Palestinians’ love for the sport.
The players are revealed bit by bit in the 3-minute, 11-second clip showcasing life in the destroyed enclave.
The clip starts with a young boy by wearing a Palestinian football shirt playing on the seashores of Gaza. He then spots a portrait of Musab al-Battat, the team’s captain, among rubble.
The child then walks into the city’s ruins clutching the portrait, as we see Gaza’s population living in makeshift tents, queuing for water and selling what they can to make a living .
The boy then meets with a friend, who also reveals a portrait of another player. The two boys are joined by a third friend, who also pulls out a picture. The trio continue to be joined by more friends, as more Palestinian players are revealed.
Some of the players are revealed in during a segment where we see a young man selling snacks, other members of the Palestinian team are shown during a makeshift classroom as children attend a lessson amid war .
The clip also shows Gaza City’s emblematic Yarmouk Stadium. The venue is one of the oldest stadiums in Palestine, and was turned into a internment camp by Israeli forces during the early months of the war in Gaza. It has since become a place of refuge for the territory’s displaced Palestinians.
The video ends by showing children playing football in the stadium.
The Palestinian side will face Jordan in an away game on Thursday as part of the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers . They will also play against Iraq on 25 March at Amman’s International Stadium.
Among the players selected are forward Oday Dabbagh, midfielder Mahmoud Abu Warda and defenders Yaser Hamed and Mohamed Saleh.
RS Berkane make Moroccan football history after being crowned league champions
Moroccan football team RS Berkane made history in the country this week, winning their first-ever league title, locally known as Botola.
Their crowning came as they drew 1-1 in a home game against Rabat side Union de Touarga on Saturday.
The team, located in northeastern Morocco, have had their strongest-ever runs in the Moroccan championship, having only lost one game so far, winning 18 and drawing six – putting them in a comfortable lead against competition favourites Wydad Casablanca and Rabat-based AS FAR.
The squad sits comfortably at the top of the Botola table, having gathered 60 points, while second-place AS FAR trail behind with 45 points.
Their coach, Tunisian Mouine Chaabani, has been instrumental to their success, having joined in February of last year following his success with Tunisian club Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
Chaabani’s coaching skills propelled the team from their sixth-position finish two seasons ago to third last year, before winning the title this season.
RS Berkane’s winning ways have also secured them a place in the CAF African Champions League for the first time ever.
Their win has made headlines across Morocco, with celebrations held in the city of Berkane among fans and locals.
The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) also extended their congratulations to the club.
source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)
_____________
______________
MOROCCO