Hicham Dguig: Hosting Futsal CAN-2024 is Source of Motivation for Moroccan Squad

Rabat – Morocco’s national futsal coach Hicham Dguig said that his squad is motivated to defend their continental championship since they will be playing the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN-2024) at home and in front of the Moroccan audience.

“Playing at home and in front of our fans motivates us to defend our title,” Dguig stated to the press.

Morocco will be hosting the 2024 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations for the second time. On March 7, former Atlas Lions’ captain Noureddine Naybet unveiled the draw which placed the national team in Group A alongside Angola, Ghana, and Zambia.

In an attempt to return the cup home, eight African nations will square off. The Moulay Abdallah and Ibn Yassine sports halls in Rabat will host the games throughout the competition, which runs from April 11 to 21.

Group B features some of the continent’s biggest names in indoor football, including Egypt and Libya. Also included in the same group are Namibia and Mauritania, who will be making their CAN debuts this year.

Also participating in this continental tournament are some of the continent’s biggest names in indoor football, including Egypt and Libya. Namibia and Mauritania, who are making their CAN debuts this year, are also part of the same group.

Meanwhile, the Atlas Lions are currently doing training sessions at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) reported today that the Moroccan squad had another training session on Sunday that lasted one hour and twenty minutes, stressing that the training focused on technical and tactical aspects.

“The CAF Organizing Committee for the CAN Futsal Maroc 2024 visited the national team to brief the players, the technical, and administrative staff on the latest developments for this edition,” the federation added.

Morocco, the defending champions, will face Angola in the opening match on April 11, before taking on Ghana on April 13, then Zambia on April 15.

Morocco has two consecutive titles under its belt in this competition, the first of which was claimed in 2016 in South Africa and the second in 2020 in Morocco.

Expressing his desire to clinch a third title in a row, Dguig said that “we’re going to take advantage of playing in a world-class venue in front of our passionate fans to win our third title in a row.”