Morocco seek to break AFCON curse

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has expressed his desire for his team to break the “curse of the African Cup” as he named his 27-man squad for next month’s tournament in Ivory Coast.

It has been 47 years since Morocco last lifted the continental trophy, but their impressive run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar last year has made them one of the favorites to emerge victorious in Ivory Coast.

“The more African competitions take place, the further away we get from the date when we won it,” Regragui admitted.

“But that’s no reason to put pressure on ourselves. We’re going to go there to play our football, to give it the maximum, and, above all, not to have regrets.”

Since their 1976 triumph, Morocco have only reached the final once, losing to hosts Tunisia in 2004. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Egypt at the last edition in Cameroon in 2022.

“What is important is the state of mind,” Regragui emphasized.

“We must go there with complete confidence to overcome the curse of the African Cup.”

Regragui has kept the core of his World Cup squad, which included victories over Belgium, Spain, and Portugal before a 2-0 defeat to France in the semifinals. Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri, and Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat are all included.

He has also brought in younger players like PSV’s Ismael Saibari and Real Betis defender Chadi Riad, who won the Under-23 AFCON title this year, to create a “good balance between the present and the future.”

The Atlas Lions will face DR Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia in the group stages when the tournament kicks off on January 13.

Morocco’s quest to end their Afcon drought will be closely watched by fans across the continent. With a blend of experience and youthful exuberance, Regragui’s team has the potential to go all the way. However, they will face stiff competition from other strong contenders like Senegal, Algeria, and Nigeria.

The coming weeks will be a tense and exciting time for Moroccan football fans, as they hope to see their national team finally lift the Afcon trophy after nearly five decades of waiting.

Mimi Mefo Info