Morocco Coach Denies Rift with Saudi Club, Focuses on African Cup Preparations

According to coach Hervé Renard, the goal of the media fueling this rumor is quite clear: they aim to undermine the atmosphere within the national team, on the eve of the biggest African football competition. "I firmly deny wanting to take FIFA to court, I don’t know on what grounds anyway, for Nordin Amrabat and his club Al Nasr with whom I have excellent relations," Hervé Renard posted.

The French coach, who has already won the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) twice as a coach, talks about "certain people and media who are trying to destabilize the Moroccan national team, through false information and unfounded rumors".

To recall, the midfielder Nordin Amrabat, went to Portugal to recover from an injury. Back at his club Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia, the Atlas Lion should benefit from a few weeks of rest. However, his coach Rui Victoria wanted to see him play as soon as possible. For many Saudi newspapers, it seems that there are troubles between the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the Saudi club. What the coach of the Moroccan national team has denied, calling on his players to serenity.

For the next CAN to be held in Egypt from June 21 to July 19, 2019, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the composition of the pots on Thursday, April 11, 2019. The Atlas Lions of Morocco are in pot 1 with Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Tunisia, and Nigeria.