Low blocks a real headache for Morocco

Morocco-Cape Verde was an entertaining 0-0 draw, but above all a tough night for the Atlas Lions. Dominant overall, Walid Regragui's side were nonetheless frustrated by a well-drilled Cape Verde team on the pitch at Rabat's Moulay Abdellah Complex. They were never really able to unsettle the determined, disciplined Blue Sharks over 90 minutes. But for most observers, the Atlas Lions' display comes as no surprise, as they have often had difficulty against tactically well-organised sides who are happy to be dominated in terms of play.

At the World Cup, Morocco in fact produced their best performances when they were under pressure and playing on the counter-attack (Belgium, Spain, Portugal, editor's note). Their only defeat, in the semi-final, was curiously their best performance in terms of quality. But Didier Deschamps' France had worked out how to beat the Atlas Lions: sit back and absorb pressure, then hurt them on the few counter-attacking chances they got. Before that, Morocco had failed to break down the blocks of Paraguay and Peru in friendlies (0-0 each time).

Hamdallah, another missed opportunity

After the final whistle on Monday evening, several Moroccans put the draw against Cape Verde down to fatigue built up at the end of the season. But on closer inspection, the reality is quite different. Morocco struggle to get round low, disciplined blocks. Neither Hamdallah, nor Ziyech, still less Louza, managed to create any real danger. Substitute Youssef En-Nesyri tried to make an impact on aerial balls, to no avail. For observers, this game gives an idea of what awaits the Atlas Lions in Côte d'Ivoire, hence the need to play more friendlies against continental opposition to get better used to this kind of game.

While the other players were spared, Abderrazzak Hamdallah came in for criticism from supporters over his lack of pace and above all his failure to score since returning to the national team. “When you have the chance, you should take it, but I still believe in him. I made a lot of mistakes in picking the starting XI and I take full responsibility for that”, Walid Regragui said in an attempt to reassure.

“Six months to rethink our game and to improve”

But the coach already seems very aware of what lies ahead for his players in the coming matches. “Today’s match was difficult and we couldn’t find solutions despite the changes we made”, he said, adding that the draw could allow the group to review their performance and improve ahead of the coming fixtures.

“In my view, we weren’t aggressive enough going forward”, the coach lamented, saying his players had “lacked intensity and wasted a lot of possession”. But the time remaining before the 2023 AFCON will be used to fine-tune the strategy. “We have six months to rethink our game and to improve”, Regragui said optimistically, also counting on the return of some players and possible reinforcements before African football’s biggest event. “The main thing for us is to be ready for the Africa Cup of Nations, and the match against Cape Verde was a chance to see new players and try lots of new things”, the coach concluded.

“Africa is not Brazil”

One supporter surveyed after the draw with Cape Verde said: “All the teams Morocco will face at the 2023 AFCON will play defensively. Morocco will have to attack flat out to win”. Another said: “Morocco’s strength remains playing defensively and hitting on the counter. Africa is not Brazil, and samba football or tiki-taka...”.

Morocco have a chance to put things right against South Africa next Saturday. Regragui also wants to face some of Africa’s best national teams before the AFCON, to better prepare his players for Côte d'Ivoire.

Mohamed Hadji