The coach of the Moroccan national football team, Vahid Halilhodzic, did not attend the press conference on Sunday, January 30, after the elimination of the Atlas Lions in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The reasons for this attitude remain unknown.
Disappointment and disillusionment in the ranks of the Atlas Lions after their defeat (2-1) against the Pharaohs of Egypt. The captain of the Moroccan national team, Romain Saïss, is having a hard time digesting this elimination, which according to him, could have been avoided.
Alongside the national coach at the pre-match press conference, Atlas Lions striker Soufiane Boufal emphasized the need for efficiency in the Moroccan game.
Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhodzic spoke about the match between his team and Egypt, saying that this match will be "a tactical battle between two selections that know each other well".
Designated best right-back at the end of the group stage of the AFCON by CAF, Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi is on his way to becoming the best player of the competition, according to some observers.
From the quarter-finals onwards, the matches will be held at 4pm, according to a statement from the Confederation of African Football. To allow the Moroccan players to get used to this change in schedule, Vahid Halilhodzic has changed the training session times.
Former Moroccan striker Youssef Hadji has spoken out about Morocco’s upcoming match against Egypt in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. He believes that matches between the North African teams are tight and sometimes explosive.
Moroccan goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi and left-back Souffian El Karouani tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday in Yaoundé. This news comes 48 hours before the quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations that will pit Morocco against Egypt.
The Africa Cup of Nations has the merit of revealing certain Moroccan players. This is the case of Soufiane Boufal, who was exceptional in the last match of the Atlas Lions against Malawi.
The Moroccan national football team will face the Egyptian team next Sunday in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Carthage Eagles painfully snatched the victory against the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire.
Explosion of joy in the Moroccan camp after the qualification of the Atlas Lions to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. In a statement to the press, Vahid Halilhodzic acknowledged that the victory was "difficult" against this determined and committed Malawi team.
Just after Morocco’s qualification for the quarter-finals, Achraf Hakimi, named man of the match, appeared in a press conference very happy, proud to have been able to contribute to his country’s qualification. He shared his state of mind and the various congratulatory messages he received, especially the one sent by his PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappé.