An entire country holds its breath. Host country and big favorite for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, Morocco is only three games away from the second continental title in its history. But this Friday, another juggernaut presents itself against Walid Regragui’s men: Cameroon, ready to dampen the hopes of an entire people, first and foremost at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
For this meeting, the coach of the Atlas Lions should lead the victorious eleven with difficulty against Tanzania in the round of 16 last Sunday (1-0). “We are Morocco: do we adapt, or is it up to the adversary to adapt? That’s the question,” he asked this Thursday at a press conference. “When we have confidence, do we change? Sometimes change means fear. And that’s not my mentality. »
If Achraf Hakimi should logically start his second match in a row in the continental competition, two uncertainties nevertheless exist, in addition to the already confirmed withdrawal of Azzedine Ounahi for the end of the CAN.
Disappointing against the Taifa Stars, Adam Masina did not convince in central defense and could even have conceded a penalty in added time. Could Jawad El Yamiq, not to his advantage during the group stage, replace him? A priori, this would not be the trend according to the Moroccan media.
The probable line-ups of Cameroon – Morocco
Cameroon: Epassy – C.Malone, Kotto, Tolo (cap.) – Tchamadeu, Avom Ebong, Baleba, Yongwa ou Nagida – Mbeumo, Kofane, Namaso
Morocco : Bounou – Hakimi (cap.), Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui – El Aynaoui, El Khannouss, Saibari – Brahim Diaz, El Kaabi, A.Ezzalzouli
Amrabat uncertain, Igamane back
On the other hand, Sofyan Amrabat, starter against the Comoros (2-0) and Mali (1-1) at the start of the tournament, could have found his place in midfield in place of Bilal El Khannouss with the aim of densifying the midfield. An option which should also not be chosen by Walid Regragui due to the physical state of the Betis Sevilla player, victim of swelling in his ankle.
“We thought we would get him back but he is not 100%,” revealed the Moroccan coach. “In any case, he’s suffering, we’ll see if we can use him at the end of the match.”
In terms of good news, the boss of the Atlas Lions confirmed, again during his press conference the day before the match, the return to the group of Hamza Igamane. The LOSC center forward, unavailable since the start of the CAN due to a right adductor injury, should still start on the bench as a precaution.
Uncertainty on the left of the defense on the Cameroonian side
“He was ready to come in during the match against Tanzania, but we didn’t have the opportunity to give him minutes,” said Regragui. “There, that’s it, with the four to five more days that have just passed, he’s back to 100%. »
In the Cameroonian ranks, the equation is simple: everyone is available, including Darlin Yongwa and Mahamadou Nagida, the two left backs who both left prematurely against South Africa in the round of 16 (1-2). “In a competition like this, the infirmary is always in demand,” explained coach David Pagou, still confident this Thursday in front of the press. “The players are therefore not always at 100%. But there are ailments that we can play with,” he said, adding that the decision would be made at the end of the day’s training.
