The anticipation is building as the Moroccan soccer squad, led by coach Walid Regragui, prepares to take on South Africa in a highly-anticipated clash in the eighth finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The showdown is scheduled for Tuesday evening at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San-Pédro, Côte d’Ivoire.
Coach Regragui made it clear in a press conference that his team “respects but does not fear” their South African counterparts. Despite acknowledging the strength of the opposing team, Regragui emphasized that Morocco is determined to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
“After the group stage, it is now a different competition. We no longer have the right to make mistakes. Any poor result will force us to go home. We are motivated to qualify for the quarter-finals,” said Regragui during the pre-match press conference.
The coach stressed the importance of humility and playing to their strengths, acknowledging the difficulty of the upcoming match. He highlighted the team’s new mindset, indicating a departure from past challenges faced in AFCON tournaments.
“I do not want to dwell on the past. We have a lot of respect for South Africa. They are the first and only team that defeated us after the World Cup. On Tuesday, they will face a different team than the one they faced last June,” warned Regragui.
Despite facing criticism after their match against DR Congo, where the team was scrutinized for their performance, Regragui pointed out that the team has successfully eliminated Egypt and advanced to the quarter-finals.
“I am very satisfied with the results we have achieved so far. We are on the right track. In San-Pédro, there is a very high humidity level. Many teams that have played here have complained,” added Regragui, acknowledging the challenging conditions of playing in sub-Saharan Africa for North African teams.
The coach also highlighted South Africa’s strength, particularly the cohesion of several players from the same club (Mamelodi Sundowns), emphasizing the need for preparedness for all scenarios in the upcoming match. “The most important thing is to create goal-scoring opportunities. We need to be more efficient and make fewer defensive mistakes,” stated Regragui.
In addition to discussing the team’s tactical readiness, Regragui addressed off-field controversies, including his own suspension and the withdrawal of key players like Sofiane Boufal due to injuries.
“We wanted to be taken out of the football context of this AFCON, firstly with the story of Azzedine Ounahi’s posts, then accusing us of arranging match schedules, knowing that we played at 2:00 PM, and finally with my suspension after the match against DR Congo,” explained the coach.
Fortunately, Regragui’s suspension was lifted, allowing him to focus on the crucial match against South Africa. He expressed gratitude to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for correcting what he termed an “obvious mistake.”
As the Moroccan team faces challenges with key players like Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech, Regragui expressed confidence in the bench’s ability to step up and contribute to the team’s success.
The Moroccan team qualified for the eighth finals by finishing at the top of Group F with seven points, while South Africa secured the second spot in Group E with four points.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.