The head coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, confirmed that his team did not play a perfect match against Cameroon and that they will continue working to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Moroccan team secured a 2-0 victory over Cameroon with goals from Diaz and Seibari, breaking the deadlock and qualifying for the tournament’s semi-finals for the first time since 2004, continuing their journey towards the title that has been absent since 1976.
He has become the coach with the most victories in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with a total of 6 wins.
He said via French “Canal Plus”: “We did not play a perfect match because in the second half we allowed Cameroon to regain too much confidence.”
He added: “In the first half, we pressed comprehensively all over the pitch, we wanted to suffocate them and we did that. In the second half, we retreated, so there are still areas to work on.”
He continued: “We have reached the semi-finals for the first time in 20 years, and in the 2022 World Cup we advanced past the first round for the first time in 36 years. That’s not bad.”
He emphasized: “We will continue working, and we will close our ears. We will work and try to win the title, even if it’s difficult. We will play a semi-final at the same level, whether against [Team A] or [Team B]. They are two great teams. We will continue working, and we hope to continue like this and make our fans happy, that’s what matters to us.”
He continued: “We have lost 4 matches: 2 in the World Cup, and 2 between the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. We face criticism, but we accept it. We hope to be up to the task entrusted to us. Today, I am very happy for the players, and for the fans, of course.”
He added: “There is a generation of Moroccans who have not seen Morocco in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. We will give them that. We should celebrate, but it’s not the end. We are not far, so we must go all the way. It will be more difficult.”
He concluded: “Today we are in the semi-finals with Senegal, we have achieved our goal and we will move forward. Congratulations to the players. I am very happy for them.”
The Cameroon Complex
- Cameroon eliminated Morocco in the 1988 edition hosted by Morocco in the semi-finals.
- Morocco had never before defeated Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations (3 previous encounters: 2 wins for Cameroon and a draw).
- Morocco’s last official loss at home and in front of their fans was against Cameroon in 2009.
