Change in the preparation of the Morocco national team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). The friendly match against Gambia will no longer be played.
The Morocco national team, in preparation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, was initially set to face Gambia’s Scorpions in a friendly match scheduled for this Sunday. However, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced on Wednesday, January 3, that this match would no longer take place, without specifying the reasons for the cancellation.
Morocco national team possibly facing Sierra Leone instead?
This decision comes as the Atlas Lions are currently in intensive training at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora, Morocco. The absence of detailed explanations has raised expectations for clarifications from both supporters and observers.
In place of the canceled match, the players of the Morocco national team will continue their intensive preparation, focusing on the next friendly match scheduled for January 11, 2024, in San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire. Although the identity of the opposing team remains unknown, local press suggests it could be Sierra Leone, which is also set to play a friendly match against Ivory Coast on Saturday.
The Laurent Pokou Stadium, with a capacity of 20,000 seats, will host the group F matches, where Morocco will face Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. The Atlas Lions will begin their campaign on January 17 against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, followed by matches against the DRC and Zambia’s Chipolopolos.
Morocco national team in high spirits
In the midst of preparation for the Africa Cup, it’s a team in high spirits at the Mohammed VI Complex. The Atlas Lions express satisfaction with the atmosphere prevailing within the National Team during their training at the Maâmora Football Complex. Sofiane Boufal and Ayoub El Kaabi share their impressions.
During the training session on Wednesday, January 3, at the Maâmora Football Complex, where they are concentrating for the Africa Cup of Nations, the national team players highlighted the positive atmosphere within the group.
According to Walid Regragui and his team, the mood is excellent, and all conditions are met to ensure optimal preparation for this important continental competition.
“Al Hamdoulillah, everything is going well. I have recovered well from my injury, and now I am ready 100%… And we are ready to take on this challenge,” said Sofiane Boufal to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) website.
On his part, Ayoub El Kaabi emphasized the excellent conditions of the training camp, stating, “A good atmosphere prevails within the group. We are above all a family. And this will give us even more motivation to live up to the expectations of the Moroccan public.”
Morocco national team to break the “curse” in Ivorian soil
To better approach this CAN 2023, the FRMF added that the Moroccan team will travel to San Pedro starting this Sunday. Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, expressed on Thursday his ambition to break “the curse of the Africa Cup,” 45 years after his country’s last triumph, during the presentation of the team participating in the 2024 edition of the competition.
“The more African competitions advance, the further we move away from the date when we won it, but that’s not a reason to put pressure on ourselves. We’re going there to play our football, to give our best, and especially not to have any regrets,” said Walid Regragui during a press conference.
“What’s important is the mindset. We must go there with confidence to overcome the curse of the Africa Cup,” he added. Morocco has not won the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) since 1976.
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