Morocco's head coach, Walid Regragui, has set his sights on breaking the long-standing "curse of the African Cup" as he announced the 27-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. With 47 years having elapsed since Morocco's last triumph in the continental competition, Regragui aims to dispel the historical challenge.
Despite reaching the World Cup semifinals in Qatar last year, Morocco faces the burden of expectation but Regragui emphasizes the importance of playing their style of football without succumbing to unnecessary pressure.
The North African nation, now considered among the favorites after their stellar World Cup performance, seeks to overcome the haunting legacy of their sole African Cup victory in 1976. Regragui acknowledges the significance of the team's mindset, stressing the need for confidence to overcome the perceived curse of the African Cup.
Morocco's recent history in the tournament includes a single final appearance in 2004, resulting in defeat to hosts Tunisia, and a quarterfinal exit at the hands of Egypt in the 2022 edition in Cameroon.
Regragui has maintained a core group from the successful World Cup campaign, featuring talents like PSG's Achraf Hakimi, Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri, and Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. In a strategic move for a blend of experience and future prospects, he has introduced emerging talents such as PSV's Ismael Saibari and Real Betis defender Chadi Riad, a U-23 Afcon winner.
The squad, with a mix of established stars and promising youngsters, aims to strike the right balance as they prepare to face DR Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia in the group stages when the tournament kicks off on January 13.
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