It’s been five days since the CAN in Morocco started. And the least we can say is that everything is going as planned for the great nations of the continent. In optimal playing conditions and on impeccable lawns, no African leader stalled for their first match in the continental tournament. This is also the case for the host country, Morocco. In a fantastic Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium, the Atlas Lions won against a valiant Comoros team. Despite a frustrating first period, Walid Regragui’s men found the solution in the second half with goals from Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi. As a symbol, the two decisive passers in this meeting were the two full-backs Anass Salah-Eddine and Noussair Mazraoui.
In the absence of Achraf Hakimi, absent since the beginning of November and launched into a race against time since then to participate in the CAN in his country, Walid Regragui decided to line up this pair of full-backs. And even if both brought satisfaction, Walid Regragui did not hide his desire to quickly find Hakimi after the meeting against the Comorians: “we still need Hakimi. There is no team that can afford to play without its best player. He is the best African player and one of the best in the world. We didn’t take any risks with him. We really want to get him back, not for one match or twenty minutes. We are convinced that he will play this CAN and we can’t wait to see him again.»
Mazraoui or Salah-Eddine on the left?
But now, the question arises: with the return of Achraf Hakimi, essential on the right flank of the rearguard, who, Mazraoui or Salah-Eddine, will be sacrificed? Excellent in selection since his first capes, the second city has several advantages. In a competition where Morocco should have, most of the time, control of the leather, Salah-Eddine would bring a lot of fluidity to the Moroccan offensives. Left-handed, he is endowed with great technical quality which also allows him to offer some offerings like his caviar for El Kaabi’s memorable goal against the Comoros. Solid defensively, the left side of PSV Eindhoven is capable of holding his left flank without problems. But now, in this defensive area, Noussair Mazraoui surely provides more guarantees.
Excellent on the right flank for the first match of the competition, the Manchester United player has already played as a left defender during the 2022 World Cup. As a result, he managed to muzzle many recalcitrant attackers and, despite his lack of offensive contribution because he plays off-foot, this quality could be exploited against certain African attackers. Choosing Salah-Eddine against more modest opponents and selecting Mazraoui against greater adversity could be a choice made by Regragui. In another world, the absence of Romain Saïss could also allow the Moroccan coach to try something by aligning Mazraoui as a central hinge. In any case, Regragui will quickly have to make choices to allow the return of leader Hakimi to this Moroccan team.
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– UPDATE
