Morocco Seeks Crucial Win Against Guinea-Bissau in World Cup Qualifier

"The victory is decisive for qualification to the playoffs," said Tuesday the national coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, after a training session of the national team at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sports complex in Rabat. The Atlas Lions are in high spirits to face the formidable Bissau-Guinean team, most of whose players play in Europe, warns the Moroccan coach.

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The match will certainly be difficult, but the Moroccan players are determined to win and take the three points in order to validate their ticket for the next round, he added, stressing that the team will be deprived of its striker, Youssef En-Nesyri, injured. "The national team, which will play three difficult matches in one week, is ready to take up the challenge, because the players are physically and mentally ready to win," said Halilhodzic. The captain of the Atlas Lions, Ghanem Saïss, for his part, also insisted on the need to win the decisive match against Guinea-Bissau and the other two to come.

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Morocco will face Guinea-Bissau twice, on October 6 and 9 in Rabat and Casablanca, before playing a third match with the Guinean selection on October 12 in Rabat. The Atlas Lions currently occupy second place in Group I with 3 points, after winning the home match against Sudan (2–0).