Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which kicks off the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to take place from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco, Regragui emphasized that “we are aware of the responsibility that falls on us. Our goal is to win the trophy and the players are ready to have a good AFCON.”
Discussing the match against Comoros, the national coach emphasized that “every match is important because we represent Morocco. We have to manage our emotions because there are high expectations, but the players must remain calm, confident, humble and respectful of their opponents.”
Regarding the injuries of certain players on the national team, Regragui noted the need to “adapt to difficulties and last-minute injuries to players,” adding that “the national team has been preparing for these uncertainties for a long time.”
“Every player who is selected will be ready and will do the job,” he insisted.
“Today, we have the determination and conviction that we can win. We want to stay on this path so that Moroccan football remains at the top level and we can compete for titles,” said Regrargui.
“Being the favorites in this competition means that expectations will be high,” he explained, adding that “we have positive pressure that pushes us to better manage our effort, our game, and our mental state.”
Regarding Achraf Hakimi’s participation, Regragui emphasized the player’s efforts to recover, saying that the PSG defender is “an example to everyone given the work he has done to be present at the Africa Cup of Nations.”
According to him, “all the ingredients are there to win, namely motivation, unity and the crowd,” noting that “we have difficult games during which we could suffer, but it only makes the win feel better.”
