Morocco aims for a second continental crown
- Morocco will participate for their 19th TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations
-The Atlas Lions are looking for their second continental crown in the competition
-Morocco wants to stay at the top after reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup
The Moroccan national team aims to win its second continental title in history when it participates in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
The Atlas Lions are looking to stay at the top of international football after shining bright at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they reached the semi-finals after beating several strong teams. They are hoping to get the trophy that has been elusive for the past 48 years.
Morocco’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Fixtures
17 January
Morocco-Tanzania: 17h00 GMT, Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro.
21 January
Morocco-Democratic Republic of Congo: 14h00 GMT, Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro.
24 January
Zambia-Morocco: 20h00 GMT, Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro
Road to Cote d’Ivoire
Morocco finished top of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 qualifiers group after collecting 9 points out of a possible 12. In a group reduced to 3 with South Africa and Liberia after the withdrawal of Zimbabwe, the Atlas Lions won 3 matches and lost only once against South Africa.
The Moroccan attack scored 8 goals in 4 matches, and its defense conceded 3 goals - a positive result which pushes the Atlas Lions of coach Walid Regragui to strive to keep the same form in Cote d’Ivoire.
Player to watch: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli
Striker Abdessamad Ezzalzouli is among the best young players in Morocco's squad. The 22-year-old’s trickery and goal scoring ability will be of great use for the North African giants.
Ezzalzouli shone greatly for Morocco during the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco last year, where he captained the team to the title. He also finished as the competition's top scorer with 3 goals.
The coach: Walid Regragui
Moroccan coach Walid Regragui inscribed his name in golden letters in the history of Moroccan, African and world football, after leading the Atlas Lions to the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the Moroccans played at a distinguished level throughout the competition.
The 48-year-old is considered one of the rising coaches at the continental and international level, because he knew how to shine with the clubs he coached. As with the Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, with whom he won the CAF TotalEnergies Champions League double and the Moroccan champion title in 2022, Regragui is certainly one of the best on the continent.
Morocco’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON record
1972: First round
1976: Winner
1978: First round
1980: Third place
1986: Fourth place
1988: Fourth place
1992: First round
1998: Quarter-finals
2000: First round
2002: First round
2004: Finalist
2006: First round
2008: First round
2012: First round
2013: First round
2017: Quarter-finals
2019: Round of 16
2021: Quarter-finals