Morocco head coach Mohamed Wahbi don set serious tone before Tuesday clash with Lesotho for Bloemfontein. The second round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers need total concentration, e talk. E warn im players say no excuse for any slip-up.
Atlas Lions dey chase second win on bounce after opening Group One campaign with 2-0 victory over Gabon. Lesotho dey look to bounce back from 1-2 defeat to Niger. Free State Toyota Stadium for Bloemfontein go host the match after Lesotho forced to play away from home. Their own grounds no reach standards required to host international matches.
Wahbi talk for press conference say: ‘We won first match, and now we go play second, and of course circumstances different, so we have to adapt and maintain concentration in wetin we do well, and try achieve victory, while respecting Lesotho national team, which don develop considerably in recent years.’
Only one man missing from squad. Nayef Aguerd sit out, with technical staff choosing not to risk am so e can continue im return to competition programme. Wahbi explain: ‘Everybody available except Aguerd, whom we preferred to continue return protocol.’
Neither atmosphere nor pitch go be alibi for poor result, according to Moroccan coach. ‘No be about looking for excuses. Temperature good, but whether heat or quality of pitch surface, we cannot get excuses. We must think only of solutions wey help us win.’
On new faces, Wahbi confirm integration dey happen gradually. ‘There are those wey play, those wey never play, and those wey go play. We want these players to develop, and we also want see them for pitch.’ Young players need room to learn and make mistakes, e stress. ‘We must allow them make wrong decisions when e happen, and respect that, because they be young players.’
Focus and steady improvement from match to match: that, Wahbi conclude, na how Morocco see off Lesotho. E warn against complacency. ‘Best way not to take match lightly na to dey full concentration, approach am with seriousness, and give everything we get in order to win.’
For Lesotho side, Likuena of Lesotho lock and load ahead massive 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco, which go play for Bloemfontein on Tuesday. Na truly David versus Goliath. Lesotho rank 150th for world according to latest FIFA rankings, while Atlas Lions of Morocco na number-one ranked team for Africa and climb to fifth for world.
Moroccans choose send big guns to Free State. Not only many of their best players, but some biggest names for world football, set to take field. Dem confirm say Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, Brahim Díaz of Real Madrid, Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United, and Ayyoub Bouaddi of Manchester City all dey line for action.
There little doubt say Morocco go enter encounter as favourites to claim all three points, but team from Mountain Kingdom don develop reputation for upsetting odds against bigger nations. More importantly, sharing pitch with some of Europe elite players present invaluable opportunity for Likuena to test themselves at highest level.
Lesotho captain and goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane tell OFM Sport say im team no need extra motivation heading into clash. Instead, dem determine to make most of opportunity and put themselves for shop window. ‘E be good opportunity for us,’ Moerane talk. ‘We dey very excited about playing against some best players for Africa, wey play for Europe. E be good opportunity for us, and we want do well against them so big clubs for Europe or here for Africa go see us.’
Coach Bob Mafoso believe im players must embrace challenge, but remain grounded and approach occasion with seriousness e deserve. ‘You no dey play against calibre of Morocco every FIFA calendar window,’ Mafoso talk. ‘E rare say you meet this quality, so e important for our players to keep their heads and remain humble. For past, we don play very well against bigger sides, but next step na consistency. If we fit hold bigger nations to draws or lose by smaller margins, we need build on that. A once-off performance against big nation no take us anywhere. For our players to be seen by world, dem no need to be excited – dem need to be serious about their work and dey on toes.’
Rain dey forecast for Bloemfontein on Tuesday, with chance of showers during match. Wet and potentially slippery Toyota Stadium surface fit make contest fascinating and fit offer Lesotho opportunity to unsettle Morocco rhythm. For Likuena, target clear: first win for Group A. For Morocco, expectation na to underline status as one of world leading football nations. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli previously play for Barcelona for Spain. Tuesday 2027 AFCON qualifier between Lesotho and Morocco for Toyota Stadium for Bloemfontein go kick off at 15:00.
