Morocco secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after defeating Uganda 3-1. Hassan Benabicha’s team, playing in their first CHAN, displayed a commendable performance with goals from Rafik Abdessamad (29th), Mohsine Iajour (77th), and Abdelkebir El Ouady (90+2nd). Topping Group B, the Atlas Lions will face Nigeria on January 25 in the quarter-finals.
Following the match against Uganda, Coach Hassan Benabicha spoke to Bein Sport, acknowledging the pressure on both teams. He mentioned, “The Ugandans needed a draw to qualify; we only had one outcome, victory. I think we started the match well, and we came close in the second half. It’s a consequence of the pressure we were under, so we were out of the competition.”
Despite initially leading with a goal from Abdessamad Rafik, the Moroccans faced a setback with the equalizer from Yunus Sentamu (60th). Benabicha made strategic changes in the second half, introducing Iajour, Hadraf, and Lembarky, who contributed significantly to the team’s victory.
Reflecting on the group stage, Benabicha acknowledged the team’s progression, stating, “If we take stock of these group stages, during the first match, we were at a fairly low level, during the second, we were average, and during this last match, we were able to see combative players. The main objective was achieved, namely qualification for the second round.”
Looking ahead to the quarter-final clash against Nigeria, Benabicha emphasized the importance of rest and preparation. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the Super Eagles, who eliminated the host country from the tournament. The coach expressed determination to deliver a strong performance against Nigeria, recognizing that it’s a do-or-die situation. He concluded, “The quarterfinal match will be complicated, it’s either we win or we are eliminated. We are going to play this match hard, and we are going to try to put in a good performance in front of this great team.”
