Morocco’s national football team coach, Walid El Rakraki, clarified the status of his injured players ahead of the commencement of the Atlas Lions’ journey in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Africa Cup of Nations 2023 kicked off in Ivory Coast on Saturday, with Morocco playing their first match on Wednesday against Tanzania.
El Rakraki addressed various aspects in the pre-match press conference:
“The offensive impetus is crucial, and if we can win with a 5-0 victory while showcasing beautiful football, we will try.
However, since the beginning of the competition, we have witnessed tightly contested matches where offensive activities are challenging.
Most teams rely on individual qualifications.”
“The high temperatures and humidity affect the players.
Behind the screens, fans don’t feel anything, but the players’ energy is significantly drained.”
“The challenge requires distributing effort over the 90 minutes and different phases of strength and weakness.
The law has granted us 5 substitutions, which will allow us to secure a victory or maintain the result.
Teams that pay attention to these details will be close to winning the championship.”
“Since the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, there have been several surprises, such as what Mozambique and Cape Verde achieved.”
“The first match is always crucial to getting into the tournament atmosphere early, and we will enter the Tanzania match seeking victory and boosting confidence levels.”
“The Moroccan players are eager to start their journey in the competition.
We’ve forgotten about the World Cup, and I have full confidence in the players.”
“Nassir Mazraoui suffered a leg injury, and we know he will miss the Tanzania match.
We are trying to have him present in the second-round match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
“Unfortunately, Mazraoui’s recovery has been delayed due to illness during the rehabilitation period.
We have a desire to go far in the competition, and we see that Nassir will be available in the future.
It’s my strategy, and I take responsibility.”
“Amin Adli lost his mother, which is a tough situation for anyone, especially at this young age. But he is a strong person.
We left him for a week, and currently, he returned to us with enthusiasm.
I thank him for coming to defend his country, and this shows his willingness.”
“There are doubts about the situation of three players.
We will wait for today’s training to determine who will start the match.
We have 27 players ready to represent Morocco.
I won’t reveal the names now; I’ll wait to know their readiness for the Tanzania match.”
“We embody realism, and we face significant challenges in the Africa Cup of Nations.
We have absences, and I will choose the most prepared players for the Tanzania match.”
Morocco’s delegation was the first to arrive in Ivory Coast in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations 2023, landing there the Sunday before last.
The tournament, scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024, will see the group stage matches initially, involving 6 groups, with 16 teams advancing to the knockout stages, comprising the top 12 from the first and second positions and 4 from the best third-placed teams.
Senegal holds the title for the last edition in Cameroon, while Egypt secured the runner-up position.
Egypt remains the most decorated team with the title 7 times, followed by Cameroon with 5, and Ghana with 4 titles.
