AFCON 2023 - Nayef Aguerd: "Every African team wants to beat us"

Nayef Aguerd is feeling good at West Ham. That, at least, is what the Morocco defender says. He has played 16 games for the Hammers this season, scoring once. "A positive return so far compared with last season. West Ham have made some good signings that have given the squad a new lease of life. The Premier League is a tough league and players need time to adapt," the Atlas Lions defender explained in an interview with Being Sport.

At West Ham, Nayef Aguerd has been reunited with another North African, Algerian Said Benrahma. The two players get on extremely well. "We're good friends. And it makes us both proud that Arab fans follow West Ham's matches to get news of us," said the delighted Atlas Lion.

Aguerd lavishes praise on Regragui

The West Ham defender also spoke about Morocco's ambitions at AFCON 2023. Semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, Morocco are aiming for a second title in Ivory Coast. And the Atlas Lions are determined to achieve it. All the more so as they can count on their coach Walid Regragui, who has brought huge changes to the national team, Nayef Aguerd reveals. "Walid Regragui has changed mentalities in the national team. There are no stars in the group. The group is the star. What we achieved at the World Cup in Qatar is the result of the change the coach brought about. It's thanks to the group's spirit that we triumphed," the Morocco centre-back believes.

Winning the continental title will be no easy task for the Atlas Lions. The competition will be tough, notably Senegal, the reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, the tournament hosts, and Algeria too. And Nayef Aguerd is well aware of it. "After a World Cup semi-final and the victory against Brazil, every African team wants to beat us. We have to go in with confidence while staying humble at this AFCON. That's what will allow us to achieve our objective," the Atlas Lion concluded.