logo
Morocco's U20 Team Coach Unfazed by Injuries, Eyes New AFCON Match Win

Morocco's U20 Team Coach Unfazed by Injuries, Eyes New AFCON Match Win

Morocco World04-05-2025

Rabat – Mohamed Ouahbi, the coach of Morocco's U20 national team, said there will be no problem in replacing players who are on the bench due to injuries ahead of a decisive game against Nigeria as part of AFCON 2025.
On the eve of Morocco's second match against Nigeria, which will take place today at 7 p.m. today, the coach said that the team can compensate for the absence of injured Atlas Lions like Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal and Mohamed Yassir Zabiri.
Ouahbi also said that all players are fully ready for the match, noting that the two injured players will be rested in preparation for other matches as part of the ongoing tournament.
'We will have no difficulty finding replacements for the injured players, and I'm reassured in that regard because we have good players capable of performing at any stage of this AFCON,' the coach said.
Citing confidence, the coach stressed that the Atlas Lions are actively preparing for the game under these conditions, noting that Nigeria's style of play has been thoroughly analyzed.
'We know they're a tough, organized, and fast opponent, but we will focus on our own style of play,' he said.
Houssam Essadak, a player in Morocco's national team, said the squad is ready for the game, recalling the good start under which the Atlas Lions kicked off the competition.
'The goal is to secure an early qualification for the quarterfinals,' he said.
Ayman Erguigue, another Moroccan national player, said that Nigeria is a very competitive team, but the Moroccan players are determined to defend the national colors and move forward to secure another win. Tags: 2023 AFCONAfrican football

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Youssef En-Nesyri Linked With Move to Aston Villa
Youssef En-Nesyri Linked With Move to Aston Villa

Morocco World

time11 hours ago

  • Morocco World

Youssef En-Nesyri Linked With Move to Aston Villa

Youssef En-Nesyri could be on the move again this summer, with Aston Villa among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the Fenerbahçe striker. The Moroccan international only joined the Turkish side last summer from Sevilla for a club-record fee of €19.5 million. He went on to score 30 goals in all competitions in his first season, including 20 in the Super Lig, six in the Europa League and four in the Turkish Cup. Despite his goal tally, En-Nesyri has faced growing frustration from sections of the Fenerbahçe fanbase, with the 26-year-old even booed in recent matches. According to reports in Turkiye, the forward is not keen to stay in Istanbul and is open to a move away. Fenerbahçe received offers for the striker during the January window but opted to delay any decision until the end of the season. With the summer transfer window now open, the club is expected to revisit those discussions. Aston Villa have been named as a serious contender for his signature. The Premier League side are reportedly preparing a €20 million bid. Villa's sporting director Monchi, previously worked with En-Nesyri at Sevilla and is understood to be keen on a reunion. En-Nesyri played 52 matches for Fenerbahçe this season and added seven assists to his 30 goals. He scored in the final league game of the season against Konyaspor, capping off a campaign that saw him rise to fourth in the club's all-time single-season scoring charts. Only Enner Valencia, Aykut Kocaman and Tanju Çolak have recorded more goals in a campaign for the club. Fenerbahçe finished the season empty-handed, missing out on the league title and domestic cups, and the lack of silverware has added to the uncertainty surrounding En-Nesyri's future. The club are believed to be open to offers and will weigh up any bids against their investment. Tags: Aston VillaFenerbahceSevillaYoussef En-Nesyri

Moroccan Trio Shortlisted for Golden Boy 2025
Moroccan Trio Shortlisted for Golden Boy 2025

Morocco World

time11 hours ago

  • Morocco World

Moroccan Trio Shortlisted for Golden Boy 2025

The race for the 2025 Golden Boy award is well underway, and three young Moroccan players have made the first cut in the 100-man shortlist. Eliesse Ben Seghir and Chemsdine Talbi, both full Morocco internationals, are joined by Franco-Moroccan prospect Ayyoub Bouaddi as nominees for the prestigious award, which recognizes the best under-21 player in Europe each year. Ben Seghir, 20, enjoyed a solid season with AS Monaco, scoring nine goals and providing four assists. Talbi, also 20, has been a standout performer for Club Brugge in Belgium. With seven goals and four assists to his name, including key contributions in the Champions League, he's now attracting interest from bigger clubs across the continent, notably German side RB Leipzig. Bouaddi is the youngest of the Moroccan trio. The 17-year-old midfielder has already broken into the first team at Lille and drew widespread attention after running the show in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage. He hasn't committed to Morocco or France at the international level just yet. While the Moroccan players are turning heads, it's Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsí who currently leads the pack. The 18-year-old has had a breakout season, making 56 appearances across all competitions and helping Barça to a domestic treble under Hansi Flick. His calmness on the ball and defensive maturity have earned him a rating of 95.4 in the Football Benchmark index, putting him at the top of the official rankings. Lamine Yamal, last year's winner, sits at number one on the list with a score of 97.7, but since no player can win the award twice, his name is only there for reference. Paris Saint-Germain's Désiré Doué ranks third and is another strong candidate after a superb season, after winning the Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League. The shortlist was published this week by Tuttosport , the Italian outlet that created the Golden Boy award back in 2003. The final winner will be announced in December. Tags: Ayyoub BouaddiChemsdine Talbieliesse ben seghirGolden Boy award

Hakimi Named in Team of the Season as Macron Hosts Champions
Hakimi Named in Team of the Season as Macron Hosts Champions

Morocco World

time17 hours ago

  • Morocco World

Hakimi Named in Team of the Season as Macron Hosts Champions

Achraf Hakimi has been included in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season after playing a key role in PSG's historic run to win the title. The Moroccan full-back is one of seven PSG players named in the squad, alongside Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué. On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the PSG squad at the Elysée Palace. 'You've not only stirred and thrilled Parisians during the victory but the entire country over the past few weeks,' Macron said. 'You've also fired the dreams of thousands of youngsters who have been looking up to you.' President Emmanuel Macron hosted the European Champions at the Elysée Palace PSG's win in Munich secured the club's first-ever Champions League title and marked the biggest winning margin in a final in the competition's history. UEFA named Dembélé Player of the Tournament, while Doué, who scored in the final, was voted Best Young Player ahead of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. Speaking to Canal+ after the match, Hakimi said: 'We have made history, we have written our names in the history of this club. For a long time this club deserved it. We are very happy. We've created a great family.' He also spoke about head coach Luis Enrique, calling him 'the man who has changed everything at PSG… he deserves it more than anyone else.' Hakimi featured in all 17 of PSG's matches during their historic Champions League campaign, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists, including a goal in the final. BBC pundit Jens Hitzlsperger described Hakimi as one of the most consistent players in the tournament, saying: 'If it has to be a PSG player, I like Achraf Hakimi. I've been so impressed with him.' 👕🙌 UEFA's Technical Observer Group has selected its 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season…#UCL — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 1, 2025 The UEFA team includes only one Inter Milan player – centre-back Alessandro Bastoni. Arsenal's Declan Rice was also selected after his standout display against Real Madrid in the semi-finals, while Barcelona had two names on the list: Raphinha and Yamal. Notably absent from the final XI was Barcelona midfielder Pedri. Tags: Achraf HakimiEmmanuel MacronLuis EnriquePSGUEFA champions league

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store