Match Preview for Senegal v Morocco
Morocco‘s bid to finish a 50-year wait to be topped champions of Africa is edging nearer though there’s nonetheless one main hurdle to beat: Senegal.
Walid Regragui’s aspect have constructed on their exceptional run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and go into the sport in Rabat as slight favourites as they search their first continental crown since 1976.
In the event that they had been to emerge victorious, it will proceed their rise to prominence on the worldwide stage. Their efforts in Qatar simply over three years in the past have been constructed upon and Morocco will stage video games on the 2030 World Cup alongside fellow co-hosts Spain and Portugal.
All of it seems to be falling into place for the Atlas Lions and they are going to be roared on by a passionate residence crowd tomorrow night.
“It’s a novel second for us,” mentioned captain Achraf Hakimi after their semi-final success over Nigeria, courtesy of a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out. “We’ve made historical past as soon as once more, this crew deserves it. All Moroccans deserve it however we haven’t completed the job but.”
Morocco boast a good defence, led by Paris Saint-Germain full-back Hakimi whereas their attacking risk has come from Actual Madrid winger Brahim Diaz, the event’s high scorer with 5 objectives in six video games.
Senegal can counter Diaz’s undoubted capacity with a celebrity of their very own: Sadio Mane.
It was the Al-Nassr striker who grabbed the one objective of their semi-final win over Egypt and he’ll spearhead the Senegal cost alongside fellow members of a dangerous-looking entrance three: Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye.
Like Morocco, Senegal have made vital funding into their nationwide aspect, conscious of the business and social advantages of getting a profitable crew on the worldwide stage.
And former ahead El-Hadji Diouf, who’s now an advisor on the Senegalese FA, hopes it’s going to bear fruit, beginning tomorrow.
He informed Le Parisien: “I knew the massive efforts made since 2002, with a deal with youth improvement, would finally repay. We’ve been getting ready the way forward for Senegalese soccer for a very long time. We’ve maintained continuity since our [AFCON] quarter-final loss to Cameroon in 2017. Then we performed the 2019 ultimate and clinched the title in 2022.”
Diouf is assured the Lions of Teranga will get the job accomplished, including: “Kids have are available in, however there was already a core group to welcome them: Édouard Mendy, [Kalidou] Koulibaly, [Idrissa] Gana Gueye, and Sadio Mané. We’ve combined knowledge with youthful exuberance. Senegal is now a Molotov cocktail that may harm any crew.
“Morocco will play at residence, however we’ve acquired actual males. That is the dream ultimate, a celebration of African soccer between the 2 greatest groups in recent times. Let’s savour it and present the world that the Africa Cup of Nations is the best competitors on the market.”
