Morocco Edges Past Namibia in Tough CAN 2019 Opener, Coach Renard Relieved

And 1 for the "Atlas Lions". Hervé Renard’s protégés succeeded in the challenge of victory in the first expected match by the entire Moroccan people. These national heroes won against the Namibians, despite the combativeness of the latter on the pitch. According to Hervé Renard, this ardor surprised the "Atlas Lions".

In addition to the combativeness, Hervé Renard praises the defensive withdrawal of the opponent and the good level of the Namibian players, all of which thwarted his plan. According to him, the only goal scored by the Namibian Itamunua Keimuini, against his own camp, in the 89th minute of play, saved his players. The coach of the Moroccan team, far from pitying the fate of his opponents, indicates rather that this is part of the game. In this regard, he recalls that Morocco was also a victim of it during the Russian World Cup.

The coach, however, deplores the lack of compliance with the instructions previously established in relation to the temperature. This, according to him, had a negative impact on the physical condition of the Lions. According to his analysis, unlike the Uganda-DRC match, which benefited from the "Hydration" break, his players were deprived of it. Yet, it was agreed, according to the rules of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), that the referees and players, during the CAN 2019 matches in Egypt, would benefit, at the 30th and 75th minutes, from a break to allow them to hydrate themselves. The lack of application of this measure led to the multiple changes observed in the "Atlas Lions".