‘Passion And Emotion’! Morocco Head Coach Walid Regragui Sets Sight On AFCON Title On Home Soil

Walid Regragui. (X)

Morocco, who scripted history at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar as they reached the semi-final of the quadrennial spectacle, the furthest an African nation has gone at the showpiece, are set to host the African Cup Of Nations on home soil with a eye on the biggest prize in the continent.

Former AFCON champions Morocco, who are on an incredible 18-game unbeaten runs, look to add to their trophy cabinet as they welcome the other 23 teams to their land.

“We have to win the Cup of Nations,” head coach Walid Regragui had declared a month ago.

“At home, we’ll be tough to play against, we’ve proven that. We’ve progressed and rejuvenated the team,” he added.

Regragui, who helmed Morocco’s dream run at the Qatar World Cup, surpassed the feats of other African nations including Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal, who had all made it as far as the quarterfinals of the showpiece, could only manage a Round of 16 finish at the previous edition of the AFCON before falling to South Africa a couple of year ago.

Morocco, who boast a strong squad with multiple players plying their trade in top leagues including the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and Serie A have also managed to seamlessly integrate

“We’ve integrated young players while maintaining our core strengths. We are ⁠coming into this tournament with confidence, but nothing is guaranteed.”

“The pressure and the responsibility are enormous. It is a truly passionate country. And when we talk about passion, there are emotions that become hard to manage.”

“The public has been waiting for so long that they cannot stop thinking about it. As a coach, you understand the responsibility. Every day, in the street, wherever we are in Morocco, there isn’t a single person who doesn’t tell me that we absolutely must win it.”

“I see it as a great opportunity for me and for my players to enter history. It motivates me, it challenges me, it keeps me focused on every detail.”

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