Sports
Morocco Coach Regragui Wants To Shift Pressure To Cameroon Before AFCON Clash
Morocco coach Walid Regragui on Thursday sought to remove some of the pressure on his team as he suggested Cameroon had more to lose in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between the sides.
The tournament hosts are the favourites to win the competition given their home advantage as well as the fact they are Africa’s leading side in the FIFA world rankings.
But the expectation on them brings an enormous weight of pressure that is in contrast to Cameroon, who have reached the last eight despite a chaotic build-up to the Cup of Nations which saw them appoint a new coach weeks before their opening game.
There is also a historical precendent: the last time Morocco hosted the Cup of Nations was in 1988, when their dream of winning the title was ended in defeat by Roger Milla’s Indomitable Lions in the semi-finals in Casablanca.
“The reality is that Cameroon have generally been Morocco’s bete noire. They have often come here and won. But that was in the past. We are the new Morocco so what happened then no longer matters,” Regragui said on the eve of Friday’s clash.
He then suggested that Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup means they have more to lose than a Moroccan team desperate to win the continental title in front of their fans, half a century after their sole Cup of Nations triumph to date.
“The reality now is that Cameroon are on form, and this is their competition because they have everything to lose,” Regragui insisted.
“If they go no further they will have to wait two or three more years for another major tournament.
“We also have something to lose because we are at home but in four months we have the World Cup so we have another competition to play.
“That is why Cameroon will be motivated, more than usual. There is pressure on us but on them too.”
The Morocco coach was also full of praise for his Cameroonian counterpart David Pagou, whose calm demeanour has helped a young side progress from their group and then eliminate South Africa in the last 16.
“We are playing the host nation, a top side who have really good individuals as well as a collective that works well together,” admitted Pagou.
“And also, not that I am a historian but Morocco have not lost at home in a very long time. So that is an extra source of motivation.”
For Morocco, the Lille striker Hamza Igamane is fit again after injury but Regragui acknowledged that midfield lynchpin Sofyan Amrabat is still struggling with an ankle problem while veteran defender Romain Saiss is also not fully fit.
However, captain Achraf Hakimi is set to start again after doing so for the first time in the tournament in the narrow last-16 win against Tanzania.
“Achraf hadn’t played 90 minutes in almost two months. He played very well against Tanzania but we have not yet seen Achraf at his best. Hopefully we will tomorrow,” Regragui said of the African player of the year, who suffered an ankle injury with Paris Saint-Germain in early November.
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, have commended the Super Eagles for their performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite their semi-final defeat to Morocco.
Nigeria lost 4–2 on penalties to the host nation after a goalless draw over regulation time and extra time on Wednesday, ending the Super Eagles’ bid for a place in the final.
Reacting via his X handle on Thursday, Obi praised the players for their resilience and commitment, urging them to remain focused ahead of the third-place match.
“Dearest gallant Super Eagles, it was a battle well fought, and heads were not bowed.
“Thank you for a beautiful 120 minutes of incredible play. You showed your strength and prowess against all odds.
“The journey is not over. You have made the nation proud. Keep your heads high, the Eagle never stops soaring. There is another stage, let’s go get that medal. You have done well,” Obi wrote.
Also reacting on Facebook on Wednesday, Omokri said the Super Eagles deserved praise for their effort against a formidable host side.
“It was not for want of trying that the Super Eagles lost to Morocco. I am super proud of their effort today, as all Nigerians should be. Great teamwork,” he wrote.
Omokri added that the circumstances of the match made the performance even more commendable.
“It is worth stating that they played against a home squad that has never lost a home game in sixteen years. Yet, with all that pressure, they still gave it their best measure. Well done, Super Eagles!” he said.
Nigeria will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in the tournament’s third-place match on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Senegal, who earlier defeated Egypt 1–0 in their semifinal on Wednesday, will meet Morocco in Sunday’s final for the AFCON 2025 crown.
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) President Samuel Eto’o has been handed a four-match ban for alleged misconduct during the team’s 2-0 defeat by hosts Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations last Friday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said in a statement.
Eto’o was reportedly seen making an angry gesture over refereeing decisions in the presence of CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Players from both sides also jostled each other, and CAF said on Sunday it had opened investigations into violent confrontations during AFCON matches.
CAF’s disciplinary board fined Eto’o $20 000, a decision FECAFOOT said “lacks any explicit justification”.
“The expedited procedure leading to this decision raises serious concerns regarding the fundamental requirements of a fair process,” FECAFOOT said on Thursday, adding it would appeal.
“FECAFOOT reaffirms its support for its president and its commitment to respecting the principles governing credible disciplinary justice,” it added.
Hosts Morocco will play Senegal in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero with two saves in the shoot-out as hosts Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to set up an Africa Cup of Nations final showdown this weekend with Senegal after a tense last-four clash on Wednesday finished 0-0 at the end of extra time.
Bounou saved from Samuel Chukwueze and brilliantly from Bruno Onyemaechi, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to convert the winning kick and spark wild celebrations inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
There was joy but also relief for Hamza Igamane, who had appeared distraught after his kick was saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
He was the only Moroccan player to fail to score in the shoot-out, however, with captain and talisman Achraf Hakimi among those who converted their penalties.
Morocco will now play Senegal on Sunday after the Lions of Teranga defeated Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final earlier thanks to a Sadio Mane goal.
That will be a clash between the top two African sides in the FIFA world rankings and a fitting showpiece for the tournament.
Walid Regragui’s Morocco have been under enormous pressure to deliver a first AFCON title for their country in half a century but will be confident of coming out on top with their support behind them at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
But as their dream remains alive it is an agonising way for Nigeria’s hopes to end, two years they lost the final to the hosts in Ivory Coast.
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