Morocco Beats Central African Republic 4–0 in Friendly, Zaki Focuses on Team Spirit
Morocco’s national team delivered a commanding 4–0 victory over the Central African Republic in a warm-up match ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, played Thursday at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
The star of the night was Abderrazak Hamedallah, who netted a hat-trick (34′, 41′, 67′), while Omar El Kaddouri added a fourth goal in the 57th minute. Despite the scoreline, Moroccan head coach Badou Zaki downplayed the match’s significance.
“To be honest, this match is not a benchmark match since we faced a selection from the 5th and 6th pot that is not qualified for the CAN,” Zaki said. “What pleased me most was the players’ preparation, the atmosphere in the sessions, and their discipline.”
Zaki emphasized that the result was less important than testing squad depth and maintaining a positive team spirit. He noted that the game allowed him to observe other players, such as Mbark Boussoufa, who “did not disgrace himself.”
Looking ahead, Zaki expects a more challenging test against Kenya on Monday:
“This match also allowed me to give a chance to other players… The Kenya that we will face on Monday will be more difficult to manage.”
While the win adds confidence, Morocco’s real tests lie ahead in tougher fixtures as they prepare to host the 2015 AFCON.
