Moroccan Midfielder Imran Louza Aims for National Team Comeback Ahead of 2025 CAN

The Moroccan international wants to regain his place within the Atlas Lions, after missing the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire. Imran Louza had made his debut with the Moroccan national team under Vahid Halihdozic and has 14 caps during which he scored two goals. "It was a rather particular debut... It was the qualifications for the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup, I believe... A debut that started quietly with also friendly matches that allowed to gain confidence. And then, a little more competition with the CAN, with the double confrontation against Congo for the World Cup, those were very good experiences," Imran Louza said in a long interview with Hespress.

The Atlas Lion looked back on his participation in the 2021 CAN and Morocco’s elimination in the quarter-finals against Egypt. "It was a first international experience for me. It’s an experience, it’s a learning, obviously with the desire to be ambitious and to go looking for an Africa Cup of Nations. Unfortunately, our turn stopped in the quarter-finals," he indicated, also expressing his disappointment at having missed the World Cup in Qatar due to an injury. "From a personal point of view, it was a disappointment, obviously. But I was happy that Morocco managed to make a name for itself in the world of football and that allows to have visibility for all Moroccans and it’s all beneficial for the country, for the supporters."

The Atlas Lion harbors the ambition to take part in the 2026 World Cup with Morocco. "(...) I will do everything to participate in it. Now, I know it won’t be easy. The groups have also expanded. The players all have the ambition to participate in it and it won’t be easy," said the Moroccan international, who did not fail to give his opinion on Morocco’s elimination in the round of 16 of the 2023 CAN. "I know the team really had the desire to do something... Obviously, given the World Cup as well, the African countries have even more the desire to beat Morocco and that’s also normal. Of course, you have to have ambition, you have to have the desire to win trophies, but each thing in its own time. There is a beautiful CAN coming in 2025 and you have to be present at the time of the events."

Addressing the reforms carried out by Walid Regragui after this setback at the 2023 CAN, Imran Louza said that the Moroccan team will be more efficient over time. With the arrival of new talents, "you can’t have such easy automatisms. It’s not easy. It’s with time that it’s built. If the players manage to understand each other, to get to know each other over time, it will only be beneficial and it will also be easier on the pitch. You can’t expect magic overnight either. There are super players who have joined the squad and I’m sure it will pay off for the next deadlines," assured the Lorient FC player, who dreams of participating in the 2025 CAN in Morocco. "I really have the desire to rebuild something with the national team... It’s up to me to be present at the right time."