High Expectations Weigh on Atlas Lions
The host nation is desperate to cope and carry the pressure as they plan to face Cameroon in the quarter-final clash of Africa Cup of Nations on Friday. Otherwise, Walid Regragui's crew and coaching staff would have really let the entire nation down had we not done it by January 18, i.e., reach for a finish in the final of the 2023 edition against Cameroon itself.
Yet as the top-ranked team in Africa, Moroccans expect nothing but rock-solid performances, and a lot of dissatisfaction remains in fans for what they consider poorly engineered wins. It was the Atlas Lions' first game that encapsulated all this in the form of their 2-0 win over Comoros on December 21, and they were met with jeers in the subsequent showdown against Mali in a 1-1 draw.
Mixed Performances Raise Fan Concerns
In an impassioned plea by team captain Achraf Hakimi for unity, fans were asked to rally behind the main men after the lumpen showing against Malawi. "It should not be usual for them to come and boo us. We are the ones who need to win the support of the fans," assessed Hakimi in the days before the confrontation with Zambia. "If the fans are behind us, we can be champions of Africa together."
A convincing 3-0 win over Zambia released some pressure built on a country long obsessed with the beautiful game. In the last-16 match, Morocco edged Tanzania by the slightest possible margin. The identity of the winners became known soon after kickoff when the Atlas Lions scored in the 50th minute.
That is after a chaotic build-up in which football federation president and Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto'o sacked coach Marc Brys, replacing him with local trainer David Pagou. Photo/Courtesy
Truly speaking, they arrived at the championship stage in the top 11, just above Italy. Besides falling right on their backs emerged the specter of various players who were responsible for their dream of a semi-final place in the 2022 World Cup.
Regragui Focuses on Results as Cameroon Lurk
Coach Regragui has insisted on learning lessons from past experiences, acknowledging that style is never going to be the major driving force for today. There were chances for teams that could reach semi-finals of previous AFCONs with unconvincing efforts. Remember that Moroccan national team grew in the way they laboured for a win in the match against Mali, which crashed their 19 games without a draw or loss.
Tactical squads are allowed this time to join the under threat Msallam's prayers for success—and some Marco muscle. With Hakimi fully fit again and the offensive Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi, some of the best in form. As evidenced by the 100% wins in a major upset for the Belgian coach, who was in the midst of a lot, they hoped to shock Morocco by any means to get back revenge for nearly half a century after lifting the trophy.
Considering the pressure piling high on the hosts (and one might pardon the cold out-of-place conditions for an AFCON) with Cameroon entering the fray with lesser pressure so far… The five-time African champions have defied pre-tournament predictions by making an entry into the quarter-finals, a situation that has seemed miraculous given the turbulence during the build-up of changing coaches from Marc Brys to David Pagou; this upheaval unfolded after Cameroon's most famous player and former captain Samuel Eto'o was appointed as national team coach before the tournament.
Making it to the last eight should be regarded as a probably successful instance after crashing o14n the last tournament at the 16. Pagou himself admitted his priority is simply to improve from the last campaign, with everything that time allowed for preparation. Under the circumstances, with Morocco having to carry its own heavy national burden, Cameroon would be good contenders with their backs against the wall.
