Morocco lost to Egypt during extra time (2-1) in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2021) being held in Cameroon. Will Moroccan coach Vahid Halilhodzic suffer the same fate as his Tunisian counterpart Mondher Kebaier, who was fired on Sunday?
Ashraf Sobhi, Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports, had promised a reward to the national team in the event of victory against Morocco. The Pharaohs rose to the challenge by beating the Atlas Lions (2-1). They thus join the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021).
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.
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.
On the eve of the match of the Atlas Lions, a stampede left 8 dead at the Olembé stadium. Achraf Hakimi paid tribute to the memory of these victims and expressed his condolences to the families and the injured.
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.