Walid Regragui held a press conference this Thursday, November 14 in Franceville, during which he described the match against Gabon, counting for the fifth day of qualifying for the African Cup, as a real challenge as part of the preparations for the national team for the upcoming competition.
Two days after presenting himself at the Mohammed VI Complex in Salé to justify his choices of players, Walid Regragui once again took part in the game of questions and answers, emphasizing the stakes of the confrontation against the Gabonese selection.
According to the Atlas Lions coach, this meeting is an important test for his players, especially for those who are discovering playing conditions outside Morocco for the first time. He noted that the match will be strong and intense, especially since Gabon has high-level offensive players, an observation he made during the first leg in Agadir last September.
Regragui clarified that he is focusing on the defensive aspect in order to avoid conceding goals and to leave with an away victory, a difficult task which represents a challenge for his group.
The coach affirmed that Morocco has progressive objectives: qualify for the CAN, reach the next phase as group leader, aim for the CAN title in Morocco, and finally, get a ticket to the World Cup 2026.
“Many African teams are improving, and playing them at home is very difficult. We have been working for years to achieve our ambition of winning the CAN which will be played on our soil… We want to reach our best level, convert as many opportunities as possible and keep our clean sheets.”he declared.
Concerning Gabon, Regragui mentioned that it was “a solid team, with good players in different positions”. “Playing in front of the Gabonese public will be a challenge. Despite this, our objective remains victory, especially since both teams have already qualified for the CAN.he emphasizes.
“We are being placed as favorites for the title because we are playing at home, but it will not be easy. We have high quality players, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. We will work on the mental aspect to manage the pressure of the public who will support us, and we are confident in our preparation to win a second continental title in the history of Moroccan football”concludes coach.
Related News :