Rabat – The head coach of the Moroccan national football team, Walid Regragui, underscored his team’s determination to succeed in the upcoming African Cup of Nations, which is scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast between January and February next year. “Ivory Coast 2023.”
In a press conference on Friday, Regragui emphasized the Moroccan team’s determination to put their recent World Cup participation behind them and focus instead on achieving success at the continental tournament.
Of Morocco’s growing prominence in the world of football, Regragui said: “Our goal is the next African Cup of Nations. Morocco is now a force to be reckoned with in international football, and we are committed to building on the strong performance we displayed at the World Cup.”
While Morocco’s historic journey at the 2022 World Cup captured the world’s attention and has been hailed as an inspiration for Africa and the Arab world, Regragui is adamant that his team wants to turn that page and focus on living up to expectations in their coming games.
In particular, he highlighted that the Atlas Lions are now focused on channeling their energy and resources toward preparing for the African Cup of Nations.
During the press conference, Regragui acknowledged the underwhelming performance of the Moroccan team last June, stressing that they failed to meet their own expectations.
He clarified that his decision to start that month’s games with inexperienced lineups was aimed at providing opportunities for young and emerging talents. Such experiences will contribute to the team’s growth and development, making them more competitive on the continental stage, Regragui noted with hope.
The comments come as the Moroccan national team is gearing up for their next challenge in the coming African Cup of Nations qualifiers. While the Atlas Lions are already qualified for the continental showpiece, they are set to face Liberia in the final round of qualifiers on Saturday.
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