Since qualifying for Russia 2018, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lions, are the pride of their nation.

On 15 June, Morocco will play their first game in the competition against Iran.

And these children are hoping to see their heroes do well, and perhaps emulate them in years to come.

Here in Rabat, the fans are upbeat about the team's chances, and the volunteer coaches of these local children think that Morocco's clean sheet in qualifying stands them in good stead.

"I think that Morocco has a lot of chances, especially because it's the only team at the international level who did not concede a goal in the qualification phase. This puts us in a very comfortable position," explains Youssef Bouderham a football coach whose organisation, the Moroccan Association for Development, has members who volunteer their time to train children in the district of Takkadoum in Rabat.

His counterpart, Youssef Meskini, agrees that the players have been drilled expertly.

"The coach Herve Renard trained them well, and they all are going to work hard, even more now so we take all our chances," he says.

On the streets of the capital, supporters are ready for the game.

"We are going to support them and we will pass the first round, and even the second one, why not? In all cases we are going to say 'bye bye' to Portugal and Iran," says a very confident local man, Zakaria Taha.

Regardless of Morocco's defensive capabilities, it's going to require a great deal of discipline as well as attacking strength to get past European champs Portugal and a highly fancied Spain side. Tomorrow's game with Iran may represent the Atlas Lions' best chance of a win.