Morocco withdraws from the African Cup (OFFICIAL)

Friday 04th October 2024 04:32 AM

Algeria Football– Morocco withdraws from the African Cup, and it’s official. It was the head coach of the Morocco team who announced it at a press conference on Thursday October 3.

Walid Regragui, coach of the Morocco A team, announced that only players under the age of 23 will participate in the next competitions of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Arab Cup. This decision echoes that already taken by Algeria, which chose not to enter its A team in these competitions. In the event of pressure from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Algeria could even field a team made up of U20 players.

Regragui’s declaration marks a strategic turning point for Morocco, which prefers to prioritize the training of its young talents for local competitions. The CHAN, which is historically reserved for players playing in the national championships, will therefore see the Atlas Lions field a team full of youth and energy, with the aim of strengthening the international experience of its hopefuls.

This decision is part of a trend by several African nations to downplay the importance of CHAN compared to other, more prestigious competitions. Algeria, finalist of the previous edition, has already announced that it will not participate in the upcoming edition with its first team. The Algerian coach, Vladimir Petkovic, clearly suggested that the competition was not among the priorities of the national team.

Regragui’s choice to follow this path demonstrates the importance Morocco places on the progression of its young players, while alleviating the pressure on its executives. This approach could redefine how these tournaments are perceived in the future, placing more emphasis on developing young local talent rather than chasing titles at all costs.