The head coach of the Atlas Lions of Morocco, Walid Regragui, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his team and the new players called up for the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifier matches against the Central African Republic.
“The new players adapted quickly to the group,” Regragui stated in a post-match press conference yesterday following Morocco’s 4-0 win over the Central African Republic.
Regragui had notably urged his players to put aside the fact that they had already qualified and to give their best effort on the field. The team seems to be following his advice, securing two impressive wins against Central Africa.
He mentioned players like Jamal Harkas, Youssef Belammari, Osame Sahraoui, and Reda Belahyane, noting their stellar performance.
Of the performance of Eliesse Ben Seghir, widely considered as the rising star of the Atlas Lions, performance, Regragui said, “We saw great potential in this player, with whom we’ve worked a lot.” He added, “Ben Seghir had a good match, making deep runs. He has many qualities and will develop further with the national team. We are fortunate to have him as part of the national squad.”
Despite Morocco’s commanding victory, Regragui spoke of the Central African Republic’s team as strong opponents and a tactically disciplined side. “I had concerns about the second match against them, but our team managed the game well,” he explained.
Regragui also appeared to suggest that the Atlas Lions need to improve some aspects of their game. He lamented that they left too much space behind when playing with a high defensive line. Yet he assured that the team will gain more clarity as they play more matches.
“The key is finding the right balance between an attacking strategy to score goals and a solid defense to avoid being caught off guard on counter-attacks,” he said.
This victory marks Morocco’s fourth straight win in the AFCON qualifiers, following previous triumphs over Gabon, Lesotho, and a 5-0 win against the Central African Republic last Saturday. The Atlas Lions now lead Group B with 12 points from four matches.
Morocco’s next challenge is an away game against Gabon on November 11, while Lesotho will face the Central African Republic.
