FIFA World Cup hero Morocco must wait till September for competitive match

Morocco will have to settle for friendly fixtures in the March and June international windows before visiting South Africa and hosting Liberia between September 4-12 in Group K.

Published : Jan 04, 2023 17:27 IST , Johannesburg

Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi were two of Morocco’s most important players as it qualified for the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi were two of Morocco’s most important players as it qualified for the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
infoIcon

Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi were two of Morocco’s most important players as it qualified for the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

World Cup history makers Morocco must wait until September for its next competitive match -- a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in South Africa.

The Atlas Lions, who last month became the first World Cup semi-finalists from Africa, were due to play Zimbabwe twice during March in the Cup of Nations.

But Zimbabwe was barred from the premier African national team competition by world body FIFA due to government interference in the sport.

So Morocco will have to settle for friendly fixtures in the March and June international windows before visiting South Africa and hosting Liberia between September 4-12 in Group K.

Morocco tops the table with a maximum six points after beating South Africa 2-1 and Liberia 2-0 last June.

The teams finishing first and second qualify for the 2023 finals in the Ivory Coast, which have been postponed to January and February 2024 because of the rainy season in west Africa.

Despite being one of the strongest national teams in the continent for decades, Morocco has won the Cup of Nations only once, in Ethiopia 47 years ago.

The closest the north African kingdom came since was losing 2-1 to host Tunisia in the 2004 title decider.

Walid Regragui, the coach who masterminded wins over Belgium, Spain and Portugal in Qatar before falling to France in the semi-finals, expects at least a last-four place at the next Africa Cup.

Regragui with the team after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium.
Regragui with the team after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
lightbox-info

Regragui with the team after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

“We must be at least in the semi-finals of the (2023) CAN (Cup of Nations),” the former national team defender told the Moroccan Arryadia sports channel.

“If I do not go to the semi-finals I will leave on my own,” added the France-born 47-year-old, who became coach of Morocco only three months before the World Cup.

The other four African qualifiers for Qatar -- last-16 loser Senegal and first-round casualties Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia -- will be in Cup of Nations action during March.

Facing the same opposition at home and away, reigning champion Senegal will meet Mozambique, Cameroon come up against Namibia, Ghana takes on Angola and Tunisia tackles Libya.

Senegal hopes talisman Sadio Mane recovers from knee surgery in time to face the Mozambican Mambas (snakes) after the Bayern Munich forward missed the World Cup.

Tunisia will continue to be coached by Jalel Kadri after the national football federation rejected his wish to resign due to failing to reach the second round in Qatar, though it finished its campaign with a 1-0 win over 2018 champions France.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment