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Head coach Walid Regragui is proud of all his Atlas Lions as he especially hailed Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz, who scored a hatrick in yesterday’s match against Lesotho.

“Give us a natural leader,” Regragui said during a post-match conference on Monday night following Morocco’s thrilling 7-0 victory against Lesotho in the AFCON qualifiers.

“Brahim can be more effective in the last thirty meters. He is starting to grow with the team and understand our system,” Regragui said, reiterating that the squad’s objective is to win the next AFCON.

But the national team still faces the challenge of further working on its cohesion and confidence, he argued, adding that the Atlas Lions need to maintain the same spirit they have shown in their latest games to secure a qualification ticket early during the World Cup qualifiers.

Read also: Morocco Thrashes Lesotho 7-0 to Cap Dominant AFCON Qualifying Campaign

Regragui acknowledged the setbacks Morocco faced during the previous AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

“After the last CAN i Ivory Coast, it wasn’t easy for us. We accepted the criticism, kept our heads down, and continued to work. I am very happy for my players,” he said, congratulating all the Atlas Lions who participated in the AFCON qualifying campaign.

“Six wins in as many matches is not easy, especially since we scored 26 goals,” he said, noting that even those who were kept on the bench and those who were not called up contributed to the victory.

“It’s mental. There is a relaxation, we have to avoid technical errors, and respect the game,” the head coach said. He argued that yesterday’s match was a beautiful evening – especially for fans.

Regragui faced fierce criticism as many Atlas Lions fans worried about the national team in the aftermath of an uneventful and disappointing show at the 2024 AFCON.

Moroccan fans were notably upset about the coach’s approach to player selection, especially during significant games.

Regragui acknowledged the setbacks and was ready to step down, but Morocco’s Football Federation renewed trust in the coach and recalled his contributions in previous competitions – notably the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.