On CNN, Walid Regragui Highlights Atlas Lions’ Ambitions at Africa Cup of Nations

2024-01-28

Washington – Morocco’s national football team head coach, Walid Regragui, highlighted, in an interview broadcast by CNN, the ambitions of the Atlas Lions at the Africa Cup of Nations, noting that the team will do its best to win the tournament.

Winning the Africa Cup of Nations “is very hard” but the players “will do their best” to claim the title and make the Moroccan people happy again, said the head coach of Morocco, which according to the US news channel is now part of the “elite” of world football after the historic performance achieved at the last World Cup.

“More than a year after a fairytale performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, all eyes are still on Morocco’s national football team and its head coach Walid Regragui,” CNN pointed out.

“And to up the stakes even more, they are one of the favorites to win this latest edition of the Africa Cup of Nations,” CNN added during this interview carried out at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé.

According to Regragui, Morocco has “important goals” during this CAN. “In this training center [Mohammed VI Football Complex] there is a photograph of the national team which were the last winners of the African Cup in 1976. Every day when the players come here, they look at the photo and get inspired. My goal as a coach is not to remove this photo but it is to put a new photo of the next winners here,” Morocco’s head coach stressed.

The Atlas Lions head coach, who noted that Morocco must regularly qualify for the World Cup, did not rule out the possibility that an African team would win the trophy one day.

Regarding his personal achievements, Africa’s “Coach of the Year” said that “these are not things I’m very interested in”. “What interests me most is my team,” he underlined.

“Today many individual trophies are awarded, either CAF, Ballon d’Or or FIFA Awards. It is nice to see Africans like myself at these awards, because it enhances the continent, and most of all, it enhances the Moroccan football landscape,” Regragui said.

On Tuesday, Morocco will take on South Africa in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

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World Cup 2026: 5 Mln Ticket Requests in 24 Hours, Brazil–Morocco Second Most Sought-after Match, Says FIFA

Five million ticket applications were submitted in the first 24 hours of the new random selection draw phase for the 2026 World Cup, a level that underscores the scale of global demand for the competition, FIFA announced.

Initial data reveal strong interest in high-profile group-stage fixtures: Colombia–Portugal (Miami, June 27) is currently the most requested match, followed by Brazil–Morocco (New York/New Jersey, June 13), the world football governing body said in a statement.

The matches Mexico–Republic of Korea (Guadalajara, June 18), Ecuador–Germany (New York/New Jersey, June 25) and Scotland–Brazil (Miami, June 24) complete the Top 5, the same source added, noting that the five fixtures bring together nine teams from five continents.

Ticket requests have been submitted from more than 200 countries and territories via the FIFA.com/tickets platform since the opening of this third sales phase.

After the three host countries—Canada, Mexico and the United States—the ten most represented countries of residence in the applications are Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France and Panama, the same source noted, explaining that the strong presence of South American countries, as well as Scotland’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence, illustrates the global enthusiasm generated by this edition.

The draw phase remains open until Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET (5:00 p.m. CET). FIFA recalls that the time at which an application is submitted has no impact on the chances of being selected.

Fans can choose their matches, ticket categories and desired quantities, within the limits set per household. An official resale/exchange marketplace will open on December 15, 2025.

Supporters can consult the FAQs, legal documents and official draw rules on FIFA.com/tickets. No purchase obligation is required to participate, but any successful application will result in an automatic charge to the authorized payment card. Fans must be at least 18 years old, the same source added.

AFCON Morocco-2025: Morocco’s Head Coach Unveils List of Players

National coach Walid Regragui unveiled on Thursday a list of 28 players, including 2 reserves, selected ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will take place from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced.

Morocco will compete in Group A of the AFCON alongside Comoros, Mali, and Zambia.

Below is the list of selected players:

– Goalkeepers:

Mounir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Mehdi Lahrar (Raja Casablanca)

– Defenders:

Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/Egypt), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma/Saudi Arabia), Romain Saïss (Al-Sadd/Qatar), Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal (Stade Rennais/France), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille/France), Adam Masina (Torino/Italy), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United/England), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands).

– Midfielders:

Oussama Targhaline (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis/Spain), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Neil El Ainaoui (AS Roma/Italy), Bilal El Khannous (Stuttgart/Germany), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona/Spain)

– Forwards:

Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/Spain), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal/Spain), Chemseddine Talbi (Sunderland/England), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe/Turkey), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos/Greece), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain FC/United Arab Emirates), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/Spain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Leverkusen/Germany).

Reserves:

Youssef Belammari (Raja Casablanca), Hamza Igamane (Lille/France).

World Cup 2026 Draw Places Morocco in Group C with Brazil, Scotland, Haiti

Morocco was drawn in Group C of the 2026 World Cup alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, following Friday’s draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

The draw ceremony was attended by US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose countries are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, as well as delegations representing the qualifying countries.

The 2026 World Cup promises to be “the biggest World Cup ever organized,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on this occasion.

The 42 already qualified countries will be joined in March by six play-off winners, rounding the number of participants to 48, a first in World Cup history.

This exceptional edition of the World Cup is the first to be jointly organized by three countries and the first to bring together 48 countries, which will play a total of 104 matches, including 78 in the United States, 13 in Canada, and 13 in Mexico.

The 48 participating nations are divided into twelve groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group qualifying directly for the round of 16. The eight best third-placed teams will complete the draw.

The opening match is scheduled for June 11 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in Greater New York.

Sixteen stadiums will host the competition’s matches (eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada).

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi Upbeat About His AFCON 2025 Participation, Canal+ Reports

Morocco international Achraf Hakimi, currently sidelined with an ankle injury, said he was optimistic about returning to the pitch at the start of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Canal+ reported.

Morocco’s team captain, recently crowned Best African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025, shared encouraging news about his condition, expressing his hope to take part in the Atlas Lions’ opening AFCON match, the French channel reported.

“That’s good news, and it’s very impressive. He shows tremendous energy and the determination to recover 100%,” said a journalist from the channel who spoke with the PSG right-back. The journalist added that Hakimi will still need to wear his orthopedic boots for at least another ten days.

“The player thanked warmly the team surrounding him, which is a steady one. Here lies the secret of the success,” said the same source.

Highly prolific, Achraf Hakimi has built an impressive record, winning the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid, the German Super Cup with Borussia Dortmund, as well as the Italian championship with Inter Milan.

Ahead of the upcoming AFCON, which will be held in Morocco, the Atlas Lions will face the Comoros, Mali, and Zambia in the group stage on December 21, 26, and 29, respectively.

Morocco’s National Football Team Beats Mozambique in Friendly (1-0)

The Moroccan national football team won 1-0 against Mozambique in a friendly match played Friday evening at the Grand Stade de Tangier.

The only goal of the match was scored by midfielder Azzedine Ounahi in the 7th minute of the first half.

The Moroccan team will face its Ugandan counterpart in the second friendly match scheduled during this international break, on Tuesday at the Grand Stade de Tangier.

These two friendly matches are part of the national team’s preparations for its participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host from December 21 to January 18.

CAF Awards 2025: Moroccan Othmane Maamaa Named Best Young Player of the Year

Moroccan Watford forward Othmane Maamaa won the Best Young Player of the Year award during the CAF Awards ceremony, held Wednesday in Rabat.

Maamaa had previously been named Best Player at the U20 World Cup held last October in Chile, which was won by the Atlas Lion Cubs.

Monday 15 December 2025