Morocco Aims for Africa Cup of Nations Glory After World Cup Success

Former Moroccan internationals place their trust in the Moroccan national team - made up of players playing in the most prestigious clubs in the world and led by a competent coach who shows great skill - regarding the expected performance in Côte d’Ivoire. The Atlas Lions have a good chance of signing a new performance at the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), scheduled from January 13 to February 11 in Côte d’Ivoire, they said to the MAP. According to them, the extraordinary performance of the Moroccan national team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will give a huge boost to the national players to produce football worthy of the reputation acquired by national football at the continental and global levels. They are convinced that Walid Regragui’s protégés are capable of easily passing the first round and going far in the competition, or even crowning the exceptional journey of this generation of players with a title.

Ahmed Alaoui, who played the 1970 World Cup with the national team, believes that the Atlas Lions have the necessary assets to have an exceptional run in Côte d’Ivoire. To support his words, he highlights the great technical abilities of the national group that reassure the Moroccan public. The former Moroccan international will suggest that the first matches, which will determine the rest of the national team’s journey, must be managed in an optimal way, in order to dive into the bath as soon as possible and adapt to the climatic conditions and pressure. The national team is an extraordinary candidate for this meeting, given its dazzling achievement at the Qatari World Cup, assures Salah Eddine Bassir for his part. He will note that the backbone that was behind the epic of 2022 will be present in Côte d’Ivoire, which offers the Moroccan selection a significant technical and moral advantage. Stressing that the players are aware of their responsibilities to honor the reputation they have forged at the global and continental levels, the star of the Moroccan team during the CAN 1998, 2000 and 2002 points out that the conditions are conducive to a positive result that would delight all Moroccans.

This edition will not be easy, especially since the African selections are showing a good level and seem determined to put on a great show against the Moroccan team, ranked fourth in the World Cup, estimates Bassir. Hassan Nadir, who played the CAN in 1998 and 2002, agrees, estimating that winning the title is not an easy mission in the presence of seasoned selections, but the Atlas Lions are aware of this and will approach these tournaments to defend their global reputation. Khalid Raghib, who played the 18th CAN in 1992 in Senegal, shares the same opinion. The former Moroccan international noted that the Moroccan team will face a real challenge. However, the ex-international bets on the ability of Achraf Hakimi and his teammates to shine in this CAN and bring back the trophy. A title that Morocco won for the first time in 1976, in Ethiopia, against Guinea.