AFCON
Morocco coach Regragui targets replicating 2022 World Cup success in AFCON 2023
Morocco’s national team coach Walid Regragui has revealed the final squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023), expressing confidence in his players’ ability to replicate their achievements of the 2022 World Cup.
Fresh off winning the coveted title of CAF 2023 African Coach of the Year, Regragui emphasized the talent within his team, assuring the Moroccan people that they can expect an impressive showing during their participation in the continental tournament.
“We possess a talented squad that will enter the Africa Cup of Nations with the utmost determination to bring joy to the Moroccan people,” Regragui confidently stated during a press conference while announcing the final squad for the tournament.
Morocco secured their place in the AFCON 2023, set to take place in Cote d’Ivoire from 13 January to 11 February 2024, after leading Group K in the qualifiers.
Regragui, a 48-year-old coach, led Morocco to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, narrowly falling short with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in the third-place decider.
“Despite our fourth-place finish in the 2022 World Cup, we are fully prepared to replicate the success we achieved in Qatar,” Regragui affirmed.
Morocco made an impressive mark in the 2022 World Cup by defeating top-tier teams such as Belgium, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.
In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Atlas Lions find themselves placed in Group F alongside Tanzania, DR Congo, and Zambia.
To prepare for the tournament, Morocco will engage in a friendly match against Gambia on 7 January 2024.
Their AFCON campaign will commence with a match against Tanzania on 17 January 2024.
Morocco 27-man squad for AFCON 2023:
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi El-Kajoui, and El-Mehdi Benabid.
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Yahia Attiat Allah, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Yunis Abdelhamid, Chadi Riad, Abdelkabir Abqar, and Mohamed Chibi.
Midfielders: Amir Richardson, Sofyan Amrabat, Oussama El-Azzouzi, Selim Amallah, Ismael Saibari, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El- Khannouss, and Amine Harit.
Strikers: Hakim Ziyech, Amine Adli, Ayoub El-Kaabi, Youssef En-Nesyri, Tarik Tissoudali, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and Sofiane Boufal.
-Ahram
AFCON
Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
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What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
AFCON
‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful!’, Rev Ikpea calls on football fans to rally round Super Eagles
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BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
AFCON
Will Super Eagles regain their winning mentality?
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The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
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