Sofiane Boufal, the Moroccan national team winger, acknowledges the heightened intensity as the Africa Cup of Nations advances into the knockout stages, where the real test begins.
Morocco secured their spot in the Round of 16 by topping their group, defeating Zambia 1-0 in the final group stage match.
Facing reporters, Boufal commented, “We were aware of the difficulty of the match against Zambia, given the challenging conditions here, coupled with a formidable opponent.
Our focus was on securing the victory and ensuring the leadership of our group.”
He added, “We are entering a new competition; if you win, you continue the journey, and if you lose, you go home.”
The Qatari club Al-Rayyan winger emphasized, “We are not concerned about our upcoming opponent because, in tournaments like these, you must win against any team.”
Boufal stressed, “The weather here is extremely challenging, and as players, we are not accustomed to these conditions.
However, as a team, we know how to cope with such challenges, and what matters to us is victory.”
Morocco, having clinched the top spot in their group by defeating Zambia 1-0, inadvertently gifted the host nation, Côte d’Ivoire, by eliminating Zambia.
This denied the third-placed team in Group Six a chance to advance, allowing the Elephants to progress to the knockout stage as the fourth-best third-placed team in the tournament.
The Moroccan national team, having secured their place in the Round of 16, is set to face South Africa.
On the other hand, Côte d’Ivoire faces a tough match against the reigning champions, Senegal.
Morocco’s Path
Despite topping their group, Morocco faces an early and challenging encounter against South Africa, the second-placed team in Group Five.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, at 10:00 PM.
Should Morocco advance, they will meet the winner of the Cape Verde versus Mauritania quarter-final clash, scheduled for Saturday, February 3, at 10:00 PM.
If Morocco continues their journey to the semi-finals, they will play on February 7 against the victor of the matches between Nigeria and Cameroon, and Angola versus Namibia.
The Atlas Lions aim to secure the title that has eluded them since 1976, the only time Morocco claimed victory in the history of the tournament. Morocco’s last appearance in the tournament’s final was in 2004, where they finished as runners-up to Tunisia.
