Morocco’s World Cup Heroes Set Sights on AFCON Glory in Côte d’Ivoire

The majority of the 27 players called up by Walid Regragui for this AFCON participated in the last World Cup. We find in this list high-level players like Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Romain Saiss, Sofyan Amrabat, Youssef En-Nesyri, Nayef Aguerd, Sofiane Boufal or Yassine Bounou, but also young talents like Chadi Riad, Amir Richardson, or Oussama El Azzouzi. The Moroccan coach also called up Yunis Abdelhamid, Amine Harit and Tarik Tissouadli, as well as two players from the Botola, namely the goalkeeper of FUS Rabat, Mehdi Benabid, and the defender of Wydad Casablanca, Yahia Attiat-Allah.

"We have a talented team that will participate in the Africa Cup of Nations with the greatest determination to bring joy to the Moroccan people," the Moroccan coach had said. The Atlas Lions are preparing for this competition at the training center at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmoura. The team is determined and motivated. "We are trying to prepare in the best possible way. We know very well that it will be a complicated competition, but we are ready to take up this challenge and do great things," Sofiane Boufal told Hespress.

The Moroccan team will fly out this Sunday for Côte d’Ivoire. Walid Regragui’s protégés will play a warm-up match against Sierra Leone on January 11, before taking the field on January 17 against Tanzania. They will then face the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 21 and play their last group match against Zambia on January 24.

Morocco has faced at least once in the past all of its Group F opponents. The Atlas Lions recently beat Tanzania 2-0 in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The two teams have faced each other, with four wins for Morocco against