Former Moroccan international, Mohamed Timoumi, has expressed optimism regarding the national football team’s ability to clinch the title in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, despite the formidable challenge posed by strong and title-aspiring teams in the tournament.
In an interview with “Hesport” from San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire, Timoumi acknowledged that Morocco’s path to the title would not be easy, given the presence of formidable teams.
He urged caution, particularly emphasizing the need to be wary of South Africa in the upcoming round of 16 match on Tuesday, a fixture that will decide the fate of the contenders in the competition.
Timoumi highlighted the difficulty of the Africa Cup of Nations, emphasizing its distinctiveness from the World Cup, both in terms of the pace of matches and the quality of opponents.
He underscored the crucial role of mental preparedness in such competitions, stating, “I believe that the mental factor remains decisive in such competitions.
Every player must work on themselves mentally, as well as physically and tactically.”
When asked whether the Moroccan national team is capable of winning the current edition of the AFCON for the second time in its history, Timoumi responded, “Today, the challenge is significant.
We have a generation capable of winning the African title, but the task will not be easy.
Players need to strategize well and possess long-term confidence, dedication, and loyalty.”
Regarding standout players in the current AFCON, Timoumi commented, “The group as a whole is performing well, but there is always personal favoritism for some players, such as Sofiane Amrabat, who exhibits stability in performance and national sentiment, and then Naif Akrad.”
On the latter, he added, “Personally, I didn’t focus on his roles before, but I have in the current AFCON.
He is a mature player and a great defender.”
