2023 AFCON: Morocco Is Model for Football Development (DR Congo Head Coach)

Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring for the Atlas Lions in the 9th minute of play, before Brahim Diaz doubled the lead (27′). El Kaabi made it three, scoring with another acrobatic overhead kick.

Thanks to this victory, Morocco finishes the group stage at the top of the table with 7 points.

El Kaabi and Diaz join Riyad Mahrez at the lead of the temporary scoring charts with three goals each.

On the first and second matchdays, Walid Regragui’s men beat Comoros 2-0 before drawing 1-1 with Mali.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s clash against Zambia, scheduled for 8 p.m. at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, as part of Matchday 3 in Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Regragui stated: “We have the opportunity to secure first place against Zambia and stay in Rabat, which is our primary objective,” adding that the squad “will continue to improve.”

“I have full confidence in this group, which is truly united. We know what we need to do to keep progressing, while understanding that we have to suffer in order to perform and grow,” he stressed.

The national coach also highlighted that “we have gained a lot in terms of mindset within the national team.”

In this regard, he noted that “we are doing our job to make our supporters happy,” pointing out that criticism can also be “beneficial in helping us improve and perform at a higher level.”

Regarding Achraf Hakimi’s availability for the Zambia match, Regragui confirmed: “What is certain is that Achraf Hakimi will play tomorrow.”

“We will decide whether he starts or not, but it will definitely be his first appearance at this AFCON,” he added.

Morocco currently tops Group A with four points, followed closely by Mali and Zambia with two points each, while Comoros sit bottom with one point.

Mali and Comoros will face off on Monday at 8 p.m. at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s face-off at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Regragui said: “We don’t yet know whether Hakimi will start or come on as a substitute, but he will be involved.”

The national coach stressed that “no manager can do without his best player, and for us that player is Achraf Hakimi, who has been delivering outstanding performances.” He added that “our plan regarding Hakimi has worked well, and the national team will be stronger with his return.”

Regragui also highlighted Hakimi’s leadership role, noting that “Achraf is more than just a leader and team captain. He’s a key figure in the locker room alongside other senior players.” He described him as “a role model who lifts everyone around him.”

For his part, Hakimi said he is feeling fit after following a solid recovery program and is eager to rejoin the squad and play against Zambia.

“I’m ready to begin my AFCON campaign and to win the tournament,” Hakimi stated, while emphasizing that the final decision rests with the coach.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Morocco’s clash with Zambia, scheduled for Monday (8 p.m.) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat as part of Matchday 3 of Group A, the PSG star said he is expecting a tough encounter.

“There are no easy games anymore. We must respect every team and give everything in each match,” Hakimi underlined.

In this regard, the African Ballon d’Or winner expressed confidence in the Atlas Lions’ ability to secure victory and maintain top spot in the group.

Reflecting on the previous draw against Mali (1-1), Hakimi noted that Morocco delivered a solid performance against a side featuring players competing at the highest level.

“Morocco is a great football nation. We know we have to improve, and to do that, we need everyone,” Hakimi concluded.

MAP: 28 December 2025

“Mali have one of the best teams in Africa and a strong desire to win. It will be a real battle. Our objective is to secure all three points and qualify for the Round of 16,” Regragui said during a press conference ahead of the match, scheduled for Friday at 9 p.m. local time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

“After our 2–0 win over Comoros in the opening match, we are now getting into the heart of the competition against a Malian side we’re very familiar with,” he added.

Regragui also warned of the challenge posed by Mali’s national team, Les Aigles (“The Eagles”). “It will be a tough game. They have strong character and technical quality. It’s a team I appreciate, capable of exploiting opportunities, which means they could leave spaces that we will try to use,” he added.

“We have been managing and shouldering the pressure for a year and a half. No match is ever won at halftime. Despite sterile possession, the opponent often ends up exhausted,” Regragui argued, noting that the squad is complete except for Roman Saïss, who is injured.

“Apart from Romain, who felt a slight muscle strain, Hamza Igamane and Achraf Hakimi, who are recovering, the group is ready. We will make the right decisions for Achraf tomorrow,” the national coach said.

Regarding the young defender Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, Regragui assured that the Stade Rennais player has “enormous talent.”

“In his development, there have been ups and downs. He’s a gem for the future. I had selected him for the national team more than a year ago when he was playing for Rennes’ reserve team. Today, everyone is asking for him to be a starter. We’re going to support him,” he said.

Moreover, Regragui highlighted the role of Azzeddine Ounahi, believing that when the Girona player “is at the top of his game, Morocco becomes a great team.”

MAP: 25 December 2025

With a total of 1716.34 points, Morocco is 0.54 point shy of reentering the Top 10 following a 27-year absence (April 1998). The Atlas Lions are hot on the heels of Croatia, still 10th with 1,716.88 points.

With five wins and one draw for the national A’ team, which took home the FIFA Arab Cup a few days ago in Qatar, Morocco has improved its score by 3.22 points compared to the November rankings.

The December 2025 edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, the last for the year, comes after 42 new games, notably those played in the Arab Cup. It therefore did not take into account Morocco’s victory over the Comoros the day before in the opening match of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Rabat.

In the Top 10, Spain (1st) ends 2025 atop the rankings after overtaking Argentina (2nd) in September’s qualifying matches, while France (3rd) completes the 2025 podium. England (4th), Brazil (5th), Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Belgium (8th), and Germany (9th) also staying in the Top 10.

The top 33 spots remain unchanged with only three teams managing to climb more than one place: Jordan (64th, +2), runners-up in the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup against Morocco, Vietnam (107th, +3) and Singapore (148th, +3).

Kosovo (80th, unchanged) stood out by earning 89.02 points—the highest total among all teams—thanks to a record of seven wins and two draws in its ten matches played this year. Kosovo is also the team that has recorded the most spectacular progress over the last twelve months, climbing 19 ranks.

Other nations that have done well in 2025 include Norway (29th, unchanged), which has accumulated 68.70 points, and Suriname (123rd, unchanged), which has climbed 15 spots since the December 2024 rankings. In addition, 12 teams have advanced 10 to 14 places.

At the end of 2025, the distribution of the top 50 teams by confederation has remained virtually unchanged compared to the end of the previous year: 26 teams in the Top 50 are from UEFA, seven from CONMEBOL (-1), seven from CAF, five from CONCACAF (+1), five from AFC and none from OFC.