AFCON-2023: Morocco’s Head Coach Praises Ideal Training Environment in San Pedro

2024-01-12

San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire) – Moroccan national football team’s head coach Walid Regragui on Friday said that the decision to come early to Côte d’Ivoire’s town of San Pedro, where Group F games of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held for the Moroccan team, was a wise one, adding that “the training environment in San Pedro is ideal”.

“We are very pleased to have arrived much earlier. We were scheduled to play against Gambia, but unfortunately the match was canceled at the last minute. We had to adapt,” he told the website of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

“This granted us three extra days to get used to climate in San Pedro, which is very hot. It’s good for players to adjust to this heat,” he said, expressing gratitude to the Federation for providing optimal conditions in terms of accommodation, staff, recuperation facilities and the training pitch, to prepare well for this AFCON.

“For our first match against Tanzania, the most important thing is to play with a full squad. We’ve established a style of play that we aim to replicate at the AFCON,” Regragui pointed out.

In the friendly against Sierra Leone on Thursday,” he continued, “we attempted to play at a similar time of our second game (at 2 pm LT against DR Congo, editor’s note). We knew that the heat would be decisive for our success. These are challenging conditions for our players, who nevertheless performed admirably by securing a win and delivering an enjoyable game.

“Admittedly, there are still a few details to iron out, but we’re confident in our potential,” he said, acknowledging the pressure on the players.

“We have supporters and people behind us. We don’t want to disappoint them,” he said, affirming that the players are motivated to win the trophy.

“We’re all looking forward to experiencing the same emotions as we did at the 2022 World Cup,” he added.

The Atlas Lions’ first training session, open to the media, is scheduled for Saturday at 4:45 pm (local time) at the August Denise Stadium in San Pedro.

Drawn in Group F alongside Tanzania, DR Congo, and Zambia, Morocco will play their first match against Tanzania on 17 January.

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U17 AFCON: Morocco Share Points with Tunisia in 1st Fixture (1-1)

The Moroccan U17 national football team and its Tunisian counterpart played to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group A match of the Africa Cup of Nations, played on Wednesday at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

The Tunisians opened the scoring through Yahya Jlidi in the 28th minute of play, before Ilian Hadidi scored the equalizer in the 76th minute.

Moroccan National Team to Play Three Friendlies Ahead of FIFA World Cup

The Moroccan national team will play three friendly matches in preparation for its participation in the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The first friendly match will see the national team face Burundi this May 26 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, behind closed doors, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced in a press release on Tuesday.

Achraf Hakimi’s teammates will then play against Madagascar on June 2 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, starting at 6:00 PM, the FRMF specified.

The final match will pit the Atlas Lions against Norway on June 7 at the Red Bull Arena in New York, United States, at 3:00 PM local time.

Morocco has been drawn alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C of the 2026 World Cup.

World Cup 2026: New Jersey to Host Morocco’s National Team’s Base Camp

New Jersey will host the Moroccan national team’s base camp during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced on Tuesday.

“New Jersey is thrilled to welcome Morocco, and the rest of the world, for the 2026 World Cup,” which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Governor stated during a joint press conference with Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani.

The base camp dedicated to the “Atlas Lions”- who will compete in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti- will be established at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, located approximately one hour’s drive from New York City.

“We are particularly honored” that the Moroccan team- to the great delight of the Moroccan community residing in New Jersey- decided “to make our state their ‘home away from home’ this summer,” Sherrill cherished before an audience of journalists and young athletes from the greater New York area.

Founded in 1861, The Pingry School previously served as a training site for the Italian national team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The “Miller Bugliari ’52 World Cup Field”- the home stadium for Pingry’s soccer team- has long served as a training venue for numerous clubs, particularly European ones such as AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United, and Liverpool.

Renovated in 2025, this facility now features two international-standard grass pitches, modern amenities, and a sports center designed for high-performance training.

In addition to Morocco, three other national teams have chosen to establish their base camps in New Jersey- namely Brazil, Haiti, and Senegal- the Governor added during the conference, which was also attended by Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York and New Jersey World Cup Host Committee.

According to Governor Sherrill, the decision to choose New Jersey underscores the state-of-the-art quality of the sports infrastructure made available to national football teams in the State.

Referring to the centuries-old relations between Morocco and the United States, the Governor recalled that the Kingdom was the first nation to recognize America’s independence, adding that the two countries are preparing to celebrate this summer the 250th anniversary of a historic friendship and a strategic alliance.

Playing in World Cup Would Be Fulfillment of Childhood Dream, Says Zakaria El Ouahdi

KRC Genk right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi is aiming for a spot with Morocco at the next World Cup, a goal he describes as “a childhood dream,” despite particularly fierce competition in his position.

“Playing in a World Cup with Morocco would be the fulfillment of a childhood dream,” Zakaria El Ouahdi said in an interview published Saturday by the Belgian daily HBVL, while acknowledging that competition for a place in the national team remains “extremely strong.”

“Achraf Hakimi is the best right-back in the world, Noussair Mazraoui plays for Manchester United, and Omar El Hilali of Espanyol is also a very high-level player,” he explained, noting that national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi also has several options on the left flank, including Salah-Eddine of PSV and El Karouani of Utrecht.

Recently called up to the senior national team, the 23-year-old Zakaria El Ouahdi made his first appearance in a friendly game against Paraguay at the end of March, hoping he “made a good impression.”

Having previously played for youth national teams, he won the U23 Africa Cup of Nations under Issame Charaï, an experience he describes as decisive in his international career and in strengthening his attachment to the Moroccan jersey.

As upcoming fixtures approach, the defender stresses the need to keep improving and to “prove he is in form,” despite an outstanding season with KRC Genk, marked by 11 goals and 3 assists in 37 matches.

Zakaria El Ouahdi was named Belgian Lion 2025, an award recognizing the best player of Maghreb origin playing in Belgium’s top division.

Morocco to Face Norway in Friendly on June 7 in United States

The Moroccan national “A” team will face its Norwegian counterpart in a friendly match scheduled for June 7 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in the city of Harrison (New Jersey), United States.

This friendly match is part of Morocco’s national team preparations for the final phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement.

Kick-off for this match is scheduled at 8:00 p.m. (Morocco time), according to the same source.

Morocco’s Neil El Aynaoui Attracts Interest from Real Madrid & Barcelona, Says Marca

Moroccan international midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, who plays for AS Roma, is attracting interest from Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and RB Leipzig ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Tuesday.

Having joined AS Roma in July 2025 from RC Lens for a fee of around €25 million, El Aynaoui signed a five-year contract with the Italian club. However, the current context could pave the way for a move as early as this summer, the same source notes.

Marca also recalled the player’s unique career path as the son of former tennis star Younes El Aynaoui, yet having opted for football under the influence of Andrés Iniesta’s playing style. Known for his strong technical ability and high work rate, he has established himself as a key figure in Morocco’s midfield.

Considered among the pillars of Morocco’s national team, reigning African champions, Neil El Aynaoui is looking to the 2026 World Cup to confirm his status and take his career to the next level, the Spanish newspaper adds.

According to Marca, the player, described as “tireless” and “elegant on the ball,” is among the most sought-after midfielders in European football.

Monday 18 May 2026