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Rabat – Morocco’s head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has announced his Starting XI for today’s decisive quarterfinal match against France.
The starting lineup is featuring Yassine Bounou in goal, Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Bilal El Khannouss.
The full lineup is
Y.BOUNOU
A.HAKIMI
N.MAZRAOUI
A.BOUADDI
C.TALBI
A.OUNAHI
B.DIAZ
ISSA DIOP
B.EL KHANNOUSS
N.EL AYNAOUI
A.SALAH-EDDINE
Tonight’s game will leave nobody in the streets; well, they could still be in the streets, but in cafes. Depending on tonight’s result, Morocco’s streets will feel very different. The streets will not sleep tonight, as the national team’s victories spark celebrations across the country and beyond.
If Morocco secures a semifinal ticket, especially against France, the result will mean more than just a game. It was France that eliminated Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, so a win will mean more than just a victory for Moroccans.
Mohamed Ouahbi said on Wednesday that most of his players are available for the quarterfinal, except for Ismael Saibari.
“This match comes a little too early for him, but I hope he will not miss the rest of the tournament,” Ouahbi said.
Saibari left the Canada game after 22 minutes due to injury. The football player has been key in the campaign, as he has delivered strong performances and scored three goals throughout the tournament.
Ouahbi said Morocco’s campaign has been positive but insisted the team wants more.
“What we have achieved so far is positive,” he said. “But any additional victory would be an important achievement and would give us more confidence.”
France’s coach Didier Deschamps is also wary of the Atlas Lions’ threat in tonight’s game, describing Morocco as a squad with “very, very good players” and stressing that they are not an easy opponent.
“They are not here by accident. It’s a matchup between two teams that like to have the ball, like to attack, and like to score goals,” Deschamps said during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“We’ll have to perform at a very high level tomorrow because this Moroccan team is of very high quality,” Deschamps told the press, adding that his staff and his personal objective are to “do everything possible to make sure things go well.”
