Oujda – National coach Walid Regragui stated that patience and perseverance have yielded results for the national team, which recorded an emphatic victory (7-0) against Lesotho on Monday night in Oujda during the 6th and final matchday of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN-2025) qualifiers.
“I want to congratulate all the players who participated in the qualification campaign. Six victories out of as many matches is no easy feat, especially considering we scored 26 goals,” Regragui said at the post-match press conference following Morocco’s match against Lesotho.
“After the last CAN in Ivory Coast, it wasn’t easy for us. We accepted the criticism, kept our heads down, and continued to work. I am very pleased for my players,” he confided.
“The most important thing remains the team spirit. The players respected the game and the opposing team. It was a wonderful evening, especially for the supporters,” he added, noting that the first half was better than the second, where the players dropped their rhythm somewhat.
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He praised the decision to employ a set-piece specialist, explaining that dead-ball situations are “a weapon that we can utilize in the future.”
Despite the comfortable scoreline, the national coach did not hide his concerns regarding the players’ ability to manage critical moments.
“It’s mental. There is a tendency to let up; we need to avoid technical errors and respect the game,” he pointed out, adding that there is significant competition within the national team.
“The players who remained on the bench also shined. The squad includes other players who are not with us. The selection will be difficult, but this competition is positive. I commend the Moroccan Football Federation and the coaching staff for their hard work,” he added.
Brahim Diaz, who scored a hat-trick against Lesotho, is a “natural leader,” Regragui remarked, believing that the Real Madrid forward can easily find solutions.
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“Brahim can be more effective in the last thirty meters. He is starting to grow with the team and understand our system,” he continued.
To have a chance of winning the next CAN, the national coach analyzed that the team must be “united” and “confident,” adding that for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, “we hope to continue in the same way to secure our qualification early.”
The Lions of the Atlas triumphed over Lesotho thanks to Brahim Diaz’s hat-trick (5′, 15′, 42′), a brace from Sofiane Rahimi (37′, 45+2′ pen), and goals from Youssef En-Nesyri (68′) and Ismael Saibari (70′).
With this victory, the national team finishes at the top of its group with 18 points from 6 wins, ahead of Gabon (10 pts), which is already qualified for the next CAN and won tonight against the Central African Republic (1-0).
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