Morocco Impresses in AFCON Opener: Regragui’s Tactics Shine in 3-0 Win Over Tanzania

"I was really looking forward to this match (Morocco-Tanzania), because the opening matches are always very important. Everyone was waiting for the performance of the Moroccan national team in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, after reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup," said former Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh on After foot RMC. Semi-finalist of the last World Cup, Morocco is the team that the 23 other teams participating in the CAN Côte d’Ivoire 2024 are looking to beat. But Walid Regragui is moving forward with serenity. "The Moroccan national team is now in the spotlight of everyone, which has increased the pressure on it, but Walid Regragui knows how to ease this pressure on his team and how to manage the matches," added Chamakh, also underlining the difficulties faced by players who have grown up or played in Europe when they come to play in Africa. "The Africa Cup of Nations matches are different from those of the World Cup, especially the climatic conditions, so the CAN competitions are difficult for players who have grown up in Europe or who play there."

Chamakh, who does not have any particular relationship with Walid Regragui, nevertheless recognizes the merit of the coach of the Moroccan team. "We don’t communicate much, but I see him from time to time. He is very optimistic, he knows the magnitude of the responsibility he has. Before being a coach, he was a player and knows the difficulty of playing in African conditions and the differences between CAN matches and the World Cup. He will therefore take all these factors into account," said the former Moroccan striker of Crystal Palace and Bordeaux. And he added: "Obtaining the three points in the opening match is good to gain confidence and start the competition with a high morale, but we are still waiting for two matches to qualify for the second round. However, winning three points in this match is very good and has given the team a good start."

Placed in group F, the Atlas Lions will play their second match of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN Côte d’Ivoire 2024) against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the San Pedro stadium and will then face Zambia (winner of the 2012 edition with a certain Hervé Renard), on Wednesday, January 24.