Sunday 01 June 2025

Sunday 01 June 2025

‘Good to Get into the Competition’: Morocco’s Head Coach Optimistic about Team’s AFCON Victory

San Pedro – In reaction to Morocco’s remarkable debut at the 2023 AFCON, head coach Walid Regragui expressed that this 3-0 victory over Tanzania would set the tone for a successful campaign in the prestigious tournament.

“The first match is always difficult. We were fortunate to be the last in the group to play. We were able to handle that match. It’s good to get into the competition,” Regragui stated during the post-match press conference, acknowledging the challenges that come with the initial encounter.

The coach emphasized the physical demands of the game but praised the adaptability of his players. Looking forward, he emphasized the team’s strategy of taking each game as it comes and discussed the upcoming challenge against DR Congo. The early kick-off time of 2 p.m. local time poses a difficulty, but Regragui expressed confidence in the team’s ability to cope with such limitations.

“I am pleased with the players’ performance. In Africa, you fight against opponents, but also against weather conditions,” he explained, highlighting the unique challenges faced by teams in the continent.

As the Moroccan squad gears up for their next match, facing DR Congo, Regragui’s focus remains on navigating the competition successfully. The coach’s positive assessment of the players’ adaptability and performance bodes well for the team’s prospects in the tournament.

The second match in this group, scheduled for the first round, will see DR Congo go head-to-head with Zambia. Football enthusiasts await the unfolding drama as AFCON 2023 continues to captivate audiences with thrilling matches and impressive displays of skill.

MAP

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Morocco’s U17 national football team will play two international friendlies next month as part of its preparations for the FIFA U17 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 3 to 27.

The team will take on Canada on June 3 at 16:00 local time, followed by a match against Japan on June 6 at 12:30. Both fixtures will be held in the Spanish city of Alicante, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced on Wednesday.

The friendlies form part of the national squad’s build-up to the tournament, where Morocco has been drawn in Group B alongside Japan, New Caledonia, and Portugal.

Morocco’s national head coach Walid Regragui unveiled on Tuesday the 27-player squad selected for the upcoming friendly fixtures against Tunisia and Benin, scheduled for June 6 and 9 at the Fez Sports Complex.

Kick-off for both games is set for 9:00 p.m. (GMT+1).


The list of the selected players is the following:

– Goalkeepers:

Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia), El Mehdi Benabid (Wydad Casablanca).


– Defenders:

Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Omar El Hilali (Espanyol Barcelona, Spain), Abdelkabir Abqar (Deportivo Alavés, Spain), Abdelhak Assal (RS Berkane), Jawad El Yamiq (Al Wehda FC, Saudi Arabia), Oussama El Azzouzi (Bologna FC, Italy), Adam Massina (Torino FC, Italy), Zakaria El Ouahdi (KRC Genk, Belgium), and Youssef Belaamri (Raja Casablanca).


– Midfielders:

Azzeddine Ounahi (Panathinaikos, Greece), Bilal El Khannous (Leicester City, England), Sofyan Amrabat (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands), Amir Richardson (Fiorentina, Italy), and Ismail Saibari (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)


– Forwards:

Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid, Spain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco, France), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain, UAE), Maroan Sanadi (Athletic Bilbao, Spain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos, Greece), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Hamza Igamane (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Oussama Sahraoui (Lille, France) and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis, Spain).

Morocco’s U-20 national team fell 1–0 to South Africa in the AFCON final on Sunday in Cairo, with Gomolemo Kekana netting the lone goal in the 70th minute.

Third place went to the Nigerian team, which beat its Egyptian counterpart 4–1 in a penalty shootout (1–1 at the end of regulation time).

All four semifinalists have qualified for the final phase of the U20 World Cup, which will take place in Chile from September 27 to October 19.

The Moroccan U-20 football team has qualified for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by defeating Egypt 1-0 on Thursday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.

Morocco’s winning goal was scored by Jones El-Abdellaoui in the 77th minute.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s men will face the South African team in the final, after the latter secured a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in Ismailia, with Tylon Christopher Smith scoring the decisive goal in the 66th minute.

All four semifinalists have qualified for the U20 World Cup, which will take place from September 27 to October 19 in Chile.

Morocco’s U-20 football team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals after beating their Sierra Leone counterparts 1-0 Monday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. 

The victory secured Morocco a spot in the upcoming U-20 World Cup in Chile. The winning goal was scored in extra time (regulation time 0-0) when Amara Keita put the ball into his own net (115th).

For a place in the final, the Atlas Cubs will face the winner of the quarter-final between Egypt and Ghana.

The Moroccan national under-20 football team qualified for the quarter-finals of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON U20), after defeating their Tunisian counterparts 3-1 on Wednesday in Ismailia (northeastern Egypt), in the third and final match of Group B.

Morocco’s goals were scored by Ayman Arguige (44th minute), Ismail Bakhty (86th), and Jones El Abdellaoui (90+2), while Tunisia’s lone goal came from Anis Doubal (53rd).

With this victory, Morocco tops its group with 7 points and will play the quarter-finals next Monday in Cairo against the runner-up of Group A.