Coach Regragui Discusses Morocco’s Readiness Ahead of Gabon Clash in AFCON Qualifiers

Morocco’s Atlas Lions hopeful after impressive performances in friendlies

Morocco’s national football team, the Atlas Lions, will face off against Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers this week, with the team's coach Walid Regragui expressing confidence in his team's readiness.

Morocco has had a strong start to their AFCON qualifying campaign, winning both of their matches so far and topping their group. In their most recent friendly match, they defeated Chile 2-0, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.

Regragui highlights team spirit and tactical flexibility

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Regragui praised his team's spirit and tactical flexibility. “We have a close-knit group of players who are committed to working hard for each other,” he said. “We have also shown that we can adapt our tactics to different opponents, which will be crucial in this match against Gabon.”

Morocco will be without some key players for the match, including injured captain Romain Saiss and suspended midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. However, Regragui remains confident that his team has the depth and quality to overcome these absences.

Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri key for Morocco's chances

Key to Morocco's success in this match will be the performances of star players Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri. Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, is one of the most exciting full-backs in the world, known for his attacking prowess and defensive abilities.

En-Nesyri, who plays for Sevilla, is a prolific goalscorer, who has already netted three goals in the AFCON qualifiers. His ability to find the back of the net will be crucial for Morocco, especially in the absence of Saiss and Amrabat.

Morocco aiming to build on impressive World Cup performance

The match against Gabon is an important step for Morocco as they look to build on their impressive performance at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals of the tournament, becoming the first African team to do so since 1990.

Regragui knows that the AFCON qualifiers are a different challenge, but he believes that his team has the quality and experience to succeed. “We want to qualify for the AFCON and we want to win it,” he said. “We know that Gabon will be a tough opponent, but we are confident that we can get the result we need.”