Arab Cup: "A draw is not enough for us," Sektioui rejects calculation and wants to bring down Saudi Arabia

Tarik Sektioui approaches the final day of Group B with an offensive ambition. While a draw would guarantee qualification for the quarter-finals, the coach of the A’ national team dismisses this minimalist option. During his press conference before the clash on Monday at the Loussail stadium, he set a clear goal: his men must beat Saudi Arabia to take first place.

The Moroccan coach refuses to underestimate the challenge against one of the tournament’s favorites. He observes that the overall level of the competition has tightened during this group stage, making each match perilous. This lucidity is accompanied by a clarification on the hierarchy in goal: Mehdi Benabid remains the undisputed number one goalkeeper. His non-selection against the Comoros was solely in response to the need for rest to avoid injuries, a parenthesis now closed before this decisive duel.

The mindset of the locker room aligns with that of the coach. Mohamed Moufid, a member of Wydad, describes a group aware of its responsibilities and ready to play on the details to win. On the other side, Saudi Arabia approaches the match with less pressure. François Rodrigues, the Saudi assistant coach, plans to rotate his squad since qualification is already secured, while still aiming to preserve his clean sheet.