World Cup Semifinalists Morocco Face High Expectations at Africa Cup of Nations

Walid Regragui’s protégés are under pressure. As semi-finalists of the last World Cup, the Atlas Lions will be the focus of all attention during the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place from January 13 to February 11 in Côte d’Ivoire. This continental tournament will be an opportunity for the Moroccan team to confirm its exploits and prove that it deserves the title of best African team of the year 2023.

Placed in Group F with Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, Morocco will have to take on a first challenge, that of finishing first in this group. A difficult but not impossible mission for the Atlas Lions, who are considered the team to beat. Achraf Hakimi and his teammates are preparing to get off to a good start in this CAN. They will face Sierra Leone in a friendly match on Thursday in San Pedro, before playing their first match of the competition on Wednesday, January 17 against Tanzania.

Semi-finalist of the CAN in 1982, 1990 and 1996, and winner of the CAN 2012 with Hervé Renard, Zambia will, barring surprise, be Morocco’s most formidable opponent in this Group F. "The competition promises to be fierce in this CAN... The Moroccan team, semi-finalist of the Qatar-2022 World Cup, must turn the page and focus on the Africa Cup of Nations," former Moroccan international Hassan Nader told MAP, assuring that "the task will not be easy" for the Atlas Lions.

And to continue: "In Africa, the style of play is different and the conditions of the tournament have nothing to do with those of the World Cup. Each match will be fiercely contested, but given the determination of the players, we are confident in the ability of the Atlas Lions to win the trophy." After Tanzania on January 17, the Moroccan team will face the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 21 and Zambia on January 24.