Coach Walid Regragui encourages Morocco to focus only on what is ahead of them

Posted Sunday, January 21, 2024 by PA

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has told his players to forget about their winning Africa Cup of Nations start when they face DR Congo on Sunday.

Tournament favourites Morocco, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, cruised to a 3-0 win against 10-man Tanzania in their opening Group F match.

The Atlas Lions can all but secure their place in the knockout stage with victory against DR Congo at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro.

يواجه منتخبنا الوطني منتخب جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية غدا لحساب الجولة الثانية من نهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا كوت ديفوار
🔜 Next match for our #AtlasLions is tomorrow against the Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/hfCETNxTQ6
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) January 20, 2024

Regragui told a press conference: “The first thing we need to do is forget about the first match we had.

“It is a very difficult tournament both physically and mentally, and each match has its own reality.

“We had a good start, but we need to do the same (on Sunday) against a team that is not easy.”

Regragui conceded his players had struggled with the hot and humid conditions in their opening game, adding: “(We are) fighting with both the opponent team and the climate.

حصة تدريبية للمنتخب الوطني إستعدادا لمباراة جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية
Preparing for Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/8ytivgCySb
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) January 19, 2024

“To win this competition, one must be the best during both strong and weak moments.”

DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre could not hide his frustration after his side were held 1-1 by Zambia in their opening match and they must avoid defeat to keep their hopes of progressing out of the group alive.

The Frenchman said: “It wasn’t a final. There are still two finals remaining and the ambition is to win the next two matches.

The Leopards missed a host of chances against Zambia and Desabre added: “Above all, I hope that my attackers will be more effective.”

Coach Walid Regragui encourages Morocco to focus only on what is ahead of them — Morocco’s Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui, left, has a thigh injury (Nick Potts/PA)

Morocco’s Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui remains doubtful due to a thigh injury sustained while playing for his club side before the tournament.

DR Congo have no major new injury concerns, while Young Boys forward Meschak Elia and Braga’s Simon Banza are pushing for starting places after stepping off the bench against Zambia.