Morocco’s U-23 Head Coach Stresses Importance of ‘Winning Spirit’ Going Forward

In a press conference yesterday ahead of the match between Morocco and Congo as part of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Issame Charai, head coach of the Moroccan national team said that qualifying to the tournament’s semifinals was a “very important” outcome for the team, but stressed that he’d like to maintain their “winning spirit."

Rabat – In a press conference yesterday ahead of the match between Morocco and Congo as part of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Issame Charai, head coach of the Moroccan national team said that qualifying to the tournament’s semifinals was a “very important” outcome for the team, but stressed that he’d like to maintain their “winning spirit.”

“It is very important that we have a good team and count on everyone,” he added. “We want to maintain the winning spirit in every match and not suffice ourselves with only two victories.”

“The essential players against Congo will achieve a positive result and win this match,” Charai said, adding that he and his team believe in the capabilities and qualifications they possess as long as they respect the opponent.

Commenting on the match against Ghana, he noted that despite the big win, the opponent created lots of scoring opportunities.

“In this tournament, every team possesses good qualifications, so we must focus on every match,” he explained.

Regarding the semi-finals, he indicated that there are three teams from Group B who could still reach the semi-final stage, adding that Morocco is “fully prepared” for every scenario.

The coach also praised the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s initiative as well as its president, Fouzi Lekjaa, who called on the players’ families to celebrate Eid al-Adha together at the Mohammed VI football complex in Mamoura, stressing that the initiative provides “extra motivation for the players.”

Mehdi Boukamir, one of the national team’s players, stressed that the atmosphere is good within the team, indicating that the families’ presence was an impulse for the players to make more efforts for good results.

Boukamir added that the squad members are doing their best to reach the furthest point possible in the competition.

The Moroccan national team will face, today, its Congolese counterpart in the third round match of Group A at 9 p.m. at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat..