Morocco-Walid Regragui: "Every team wants to beat us"

Walid Regragui is aware of the challenges that lie ahead after Morocco's fine showing at the 2022 World Cup, where the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals. Held by Peru and Cape Verde in friendlies, Morocco have gone two matches without scoring a single goal. On Saturday 17 June, against South Africa, on matchday 5 of 2023 AFCON qualifying, the Moroccans are hoping to end their goal drought.

The Moroccan side also intend to return to winning ways. It promises to be a tough task for the Atlas Lions, especially as Morocco are the team to beat in Africa, according to head coach Walid Regragui. "The team has performed well in recent years and what I have also learned is that every team wants to beat us, which makes wins harder to come by. It also helps us improve and we are pleased about that," said the former Wydad Casablanca coach at a press conference.

AFCON 2023 (Q): results and full schedule for matchday 5

Already qualified for AFCON 2023, the Moroccans will go out to win. "We won't have any pressure to win. They have a lot of good players from Mamelodi Sundowns who play attacking football, but that means we also have to play and show that we are a great team in Africa," added Walid Regragui.

Regragui also maintains that his aim is to win AFCON 2023, even if he has to lose friendlies before then. " What matters now is that we arrive at AFCON in the best possible condition. If we win a friendly, that's good, and if we lose it, then we've gained experience."