Morocco now knows its soldiers for the continental reconquest on its home soil. Walid Regragui has unveiled a final list marked by the resounding absence of Hakim Ziyech , the coach preferring to bet on the explosive dynamics of Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi to win the trophy.
The Atlas Lions are fighting for survival in the competition this Thursday against Syria. Having emerged as group leaders after defeating Saudi Arabia, Tarik Sektioui’s men must now eliminate an undefeated opponent to hope to reach the semi-finals.
Morocco is aiming for the semi-finals but Tarik Sektioui refuses any overconfidence. On the eve of the quarter-final against Syria, the coach demands total concentration to avoid the trap against an opponent considered solid and difficult to maneuver.
Hicham El Guerrouj has held the world record since 1998, but this supremacy is wavering. Azeddine Habz , born in Morocco and the new French record holder, is attacking this legendary time, convinced that a second and a half is a distance that can be erased through hard work.
Morocco will face Syria on Thursday in the quarter-finals, but all eyes are already on the next round. A victory for the Atlas Lions coupled with an Algerian success would provoke an inevitable Maghreb shock , turning the end of the tournament into a highly tense regional duel.
Moroccan champion Jamal Ben Saddik is trading the rings for a cell. The Antwerp court sentenced him to four years in prison for his central role in the kidnapping of a dockworker, a heavy sentence that adds to a series of legal and sporting setbacks.
Nicolas Pépé’s joke about the history of Moroccan football is not going over well. The Ivorian striker had to issue a public apology after dating the sole triumph of the Atlas Lions to "1818", a mockery that inflamed social media as the AFCON approaches.
Olympique de Marseille is about to pull off the perfect transfer coup. While Olympiacos was desperately trying to retain its Moroccan striker, the Phocaean club would have already sealed a preliminary agreement with Ayoub El Kaabi, taking advantage of his contract expiration to acquire one of the most effective strikers in Europe.
The Al Majlis show has crossed the red line. Live on air, a Kuwaiti analyst accused Morocco of having falsified the age of its players to win the U20 World Cup, triggering black anger from supporters in the face of this unsubstantiated defamation.
The Atlas Lions had no right to make a mistake against the Saudi giant, they responded with fighting spirit. A lone goal by Karim El Berkaoui propels Morocco to the top of Group B, validating a ticket to the quarter-finals earned through courage.
While a verbal agreement binds Brahim Díaz to Real Madrid until 2030, Saudi Arabia is coming back with a financial proposal that is impossible to refuse. The Moroccan star finds himself at a crossroads between continuity in Spain and a 120 million euro contract, as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
Everything is still possible for the Atlas Lions, from leadership to direct elimination. This Monday at 6 pm, the national team is challenging the Saudi leader with an obligation to get a result to avoid Oman’s comeback and validate their ticket for the quarter-finals.