The Atlas Lions are preparing to face the Central African Republic this Saturday, October 12, 2024, as part of the third day of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2025). This match, which will be played at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda, is an opportunity for coach Walid Regragui to experiment with new tactics and integrate young talents into the national squad.
Five years after their last meeting on this same field against Libya, the Moroccans return to Oujda for this crucial double confrontation against the Central African Republic. The first match will take place this Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and the second is scheduled three days later, at the same place and at the same time.
Deprived of its stars like Hakim Ziyech and Brahim Diaz, the national team will count on new faces such as Osame Sahraoui, Reda Belahyan, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Jamal Harkass and Younes Belammari. These young hopes will have to rise to the occasion to allow Morocco to achieve a victory and strengthen its world ranking, even if the country is already qualified for the CAN as organizer.
During the pre-match press conference, Walid Regragui expressed his confidence in his new players, notably Younes Belammari and Jamal Harkass. About Belammari, Regragui stressed: “Younes is an intelligent player, who adapts very quickly. I know him well having coached him at FUS, and I have no doubt about his mental and technical abilities. » He also praised the performances of Jamal Harkass, whom he considers “one of Botola’s best players”, ready to prove himself at the next Club World Cup.
Even if the Atlas Lions are automatically qualified for CAN 2025, these elimination matches are not seen as simple formalities. Regragui explained that these confrontations serve as essential tests to prepare the team for the challenges of the CAN: “This meeting is an opportunity to continue working and improving our game as the competition approaches. »
With the absence of Noussair Mazraoui, two options are available to the coach for the left-back position: Adam Aznou and Youssef Belammari. In attack, Ayoub El Kaabi, Soufiane Rahimi and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli are among the preferred choices due to their recent club performances.
Morocco, which had already faced the Central African Republic during the CAN 2021 qualifiers, won without difficulty with a score of 4-1 in the first leg and 2-0 in the return. This new duel offers the Atlas Lions a chance to continue this victorious momentum while refining their preparation for the major continental event to come.
This match will be a real test for young talents and an opportunity for the national team to strengthen its cohesion in preparation for CAN 2025.
The editorial team/Le7tv
