As the Moroccan national team players head towards the plane that will take them to Gabon, a feeling of optimism and confidence prevails among the team members, as this match is not just a sporting confrontation, but rather a new station towards achieving the dream of coronation.
However, as is the case with any important match, it comes with its challenges, and the biggest of these challenges was the case of midfield star Azzedine Ounahi, whose injury was a cause for concern for “Atlas Lions” fans and Moroccan football followers.
Ounahi, the Greek Olympiacos player, who has always excelled in his career with the Moroccan national team, had suffered an injury that prevented him from participating in the team’s first training, which raised doubts about his possibility of joining the next match.
However, his recent appearance in the last training session, and his return to the field, gave a positive signal to the technical staff and his teammates, as doctors confirmed his full readiness to participate.
This quick return and high readiness made Walid Regragui, the national team’s coach, breathe a sigh of relief, as Ounahi’s presence on the field may constitute a strong addition to enhance the Moroccan national team’s chances in this important confrontation.
Enthusiasm is also increasing with the return of Zakaria Boukhal, the French player from Toulouse, after replacing the injured Elias Akhomache, as well as Reda Belhiane, the Italian player from Verona, who replaced the also injured Amir Richardson.
These substitutions come at a sensitive time, as Regragui aspires to invest in the readiness of all his players, despite the circumstances, to face the Gabon national team aspiring to snatch the final qualification ticket to the tournament, which will be held on Moroccan soil.
The Gabonese national team, clinging to hope, enters this match with the goal of winning in mind, as it occupies second place, and is striving with all its energy to secure qualification. This ambition puts additional pressure on the Atlas Lions, despite their pre-qualification as hosts.
However, Regragui stressed in his press statements that the match will be a real test of the Moroccan team’s ability to maintain the spirit of victory and steadfastness despite the early qualification, stressing that any retreat or laxity will be unacceptable.
Next Friday, all eyes will turn to the Franceville Stadium in Gabon, where fans of the Moroccan national team hope that the “Atlas Lions” will continue their brilliance and return from there with a new victory that confirms their aspiration towards the next tournament, and strengthens their position as one of the strongest teams in the African continent.
