Morocco’s Regragui Sets Sights on AFCON Glory After World Cup Success

Walid Regragui aims for glory at the AFCON after a historic World Cup. His men "will do their utmost" to achieve it and make the Moroccan people happy again, assured the coach of Morocco, in an interview granted to CNN at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé before the start of the continental tournament, and broadcast Friday in the "African voices change makers" section of the American news channel. His ambition is therefore to finish as the winner of the 2023 Ivory Coast AFCON. Looking at a photo of the national team that was the last to win the Africa Cup in 1976, he expresses his optimism. "Every day, when the players come here, they look at the photo and are inspired. My goal as a coach is not to remove this photo, but to put a new photo of the next winners here," he promised.

Reflecting on his appointment, he says he accepted the position of coach three months before the World Cup "out of love" for Morocco "and because participating in a World Cup is the dream of all coaches". After Morocco became the first African and Arab country to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time, beating great football nations like Spain and Portugal in Qatar, Walid Regragui is now convinced that an African team can one day win the world trophy. He will also ensure that the Atlas Lions must now qualify regularly for the World Cup.

Achraf Hakimi and his teammates will face South Africa next Tuesday at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro at 9pm (Moroccan time) as part of the round of 16 of the 2023 Ivory Coast AFCON. Two teams that have already faced each other eight times.