Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is bracing for a challenging encounter against Mali in their second Group A match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Atlas Lions face the Eagles today at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 GMT.
A victory for Morocco would secure their place in the Round of 32.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Regragui stressed the importance of their opening win but acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming clash.
“Now we are facing a tough match against Mali, a team we know very well. They are among the strongest teams, with high-quality players who always want to win,” he said. “Our goal is to win and qualify for the next round.”
Regragui also provided updates on key players’ fitness. Nayef Aguerd is fully fit, while captain Romain Saiss will miss the match due to a muscle injury. Achraf Hakimi and Hamza Igamane are both recovering and expected to return soon.
The coach praised young defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal as a rising talent. “I coached him about 10 years ago at FUS Rabat. He is doing an excellent job and is a jewel for the future,” Regragui said.
Reflecting on Morocco’s record against Mali, Regragui recalled their semi-final win in AFCON 2004 but noted past defeats in Casablanca. He warned that Mali’s speed and skill will require Morocco to remain highly focused.
“They always have big names. It will be a very difficult match,” he said.
Regragui also acknowledged some mistakes in their first game but emphasized that victories are decided over the full 90 minutes. “What matters in the end is winning,” he added.
Morocco began their campaign with a solid 2-0 win over Comoros, setting the tone for today’s crucial encounter.
