Morocco make statement with back-to-back friendly wins ahead of CHAN 2024
Morocco's home-based national team is hitting peak form at just the right time, recording a second consecutive friendly win ahead of the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).
With a strong 2-1 victory over fellow CHAN contenders Burkina Faso in Kenitra on Saturday, the youthful Atlas Lions are shaping up to be serious title contenders.
The result follows Morocco's 6-0 thrashing of Chad in June and confirms their growing momentum despite limited preparation time.
With the CHAN tournament kicking off on 2 August in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, head coach Tarik Sektioui appears to be molding a cohesive and confident squad drawn entirely from domestic talent born in 2000 or later.
After a cagey opening 45 minutes, Morocco asserted their dominance in the second half.
Bouchaïb Arrasi of Raja Casablanca opened the scoring in the 58th minute before Racing Casablanca's Younes El Kaabi doubled the lead four minutes later.
Burkina Faso pulled one back through Papus Naser Ouattara late in the game, but Morocco held on to claim victory.
Coach Sektioui's side, exempt from CHAN qualifiers as part of CAF's seeding protocol, are in a tough Group A alongside co-hosts Kenya, DR Congo, Zambia, and Angola.
However, the recent performances have significantly boosted morale and tactical cohesion within the squad.
The Lion Cubs will face Burkina Faso once more on Thursday, 24 July, also in Kenitra, in what will serve as their final warm-up before travelling to East Africa for the tournament.
With a combination of individual brilliance and growing team chemistry, Morocco are making it clear: they are not just participating—they are coming to win.
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Morocco return to CHAN with ambition as Sektioui names star-studded squad
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Group A includes former champions like DR Congo and Morocco—how do you plan to navigate such a tough group? Whoever drew these balls…. Mariga (Macdonald) killed us.. (laughs). But, honestly, it's a great challenge. When you play football and then convert to become a coach, you always have that saying that to win anything you've got to beat the best. For you to get to what you want, to be the best, the difficult teams will always be in your path and you have to beat them anyway. We have a great opportunity with two-time champions in the DRC and Morocco, Angola which is also very well respected as well as a tough nation in Zambia who have always been there in Africa football. And now, we have a Kenya who want to have a taste of the top. This is our time and the squad we have gathered is hungry and want success. How better than start this in your own backyard. We play our matches on our home ground infront of the home fans and this is a perfect opportunity to do exceptionally well and eliminate teams that could probably get to final early. This will be a massive challenge and a good test for the boys as well. We will be ready and come CHAN, I can very confidently state that we will be a team fearful of no one. What are your expectations from the local-based players representing Kenya at CHAN 2024? I have watched lots of them in the league and I know that we have picked quality. I have also had the chance to for a few training camps after I arrived here and I got a first-hand experience to work with some of these players and judge them by myself. I see them and what levels they are at hand what I think we can get them to be. They have a mentality, mindset, work ethic and talent to get the work done. I know their abilities and I know what they can do. Now it is just a matter of implementing it on the pitch on matchday. How has the support from the FKF and government impacted your team's preparation? Honestly, it has been amazing. With the limitations that are there, they try to give us everything. They are doing the best they can knowing that this is not the same ideal situation like for the coach of England or France national team who have everything at their disposal. For Africa, it is a process but we are working to get to the level where the established nations are and it is just a matter of time. We are moving in the right direction and that is helpful when you see they are trying, then as a coach you become a bit lenient with expectations but I am truly grateful to FKF and the government because they have been very supportive throughout. In terms of tactics, how different is CHAN compared to other continental tournaments? I think they don't differ much this is just the same continental competition with equal pressure, equal expectation. 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Remo Stars dominate as Chelle names final Nigeria squad for CHAN 2024
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