Confident’ Walid Regragui releases, 27-man Morocco squad for 2023 AFCON
Morocco national team coach, Walid Regragui, has released a 27-man squad for the 2023 AFCON while also expressing confidence in his squad’s ability to replicate their achievements from the 2022 World Cup in Ivory Coast.
Regragui, recently awarded the CAF 2023 African Coach of the Year, announced the final squad for the AFCON tournament and emphasized the determination and talent within the team.
After leading Morocco to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, Regragui is optimistic about their chances in AFCON 2023. Despite falling short in the World Cup’s third-place decider, the coach believes that Morocco’s talented squad is fully prepared to bring joy to the Moroccan people in the continental tournament.
“We possess a talented squad that will enter the Africa Cup of Nations with the utmost determination to bring joy to the Moroccan people,” Regragui confidently stated during a press conference while announcing the final squad for the tournament.
Morocco secured their place in AFCON 2023 by leading Group K in the qualifiers.
In the upcoming tournament scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, Morocco is placed in Group F alongside Tanzania, DR Congo, and Zambia.
Regragui stated, “Despite our fourth-place finish in the 2022 World Cup, we are fully prepared to replicate the success we achieved in Qatar.” Morocco made a significant impact in the 2022 World Cup, defeating top-tier teams such as Belgium, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.
READ ALSO: Meet Morroco Walid Regragui, the first African manager to lead a team to a FIFA World Cup Semi-final.
To prepare for AFCON 2023, Morocco will play a friendly match against Gambia on January 7, 2024. Their campaign in the AFCON tournament will begin with a match against Tanzania on January 17, 2024.
MOROCCO’S 27-MAN AFCON SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi El-Kajoui, and El-Mehdi Benabid.
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Yahia Attiat Allah, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Yunis Abdelhamid, Chadi Riad, Abdelkabir Abqar, and Mohamed Chibi.
Midfielders: Amir Richardson, Sofyan Amrabat, Oussama El-Azzouzi, Selim Amallah, Ismael Saibari, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El- Khannouss, and Amine Harit.
Strikers: Hakim Ziyech, Amine Adli, Ayoub El-Kaabi, Youssef En-Nesyri, Tarik Tissoudali, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and Sofiane Boufal.
