AFCON 2023: Blow for Hakimi, Ziyech As Fresh Injury Rocks Morocco Camp

• Morocco could be without two key players for the 2023 AFCON
• Noussair Mazraoui and captain Romain Saiss are battling with injuries
• Coach Walid Regragui is set to announce Morocco’s final squad list on Thursday

In less than a month, Morocco will be competing in Africa’s flagship Africa Cup of Nations competition, but injuries want to ruin their tournament even before it kicks off.

The Atlas Lions have already submitted a 55-man provisional squad for the AFCON, but two key players likely to make the final cut of 27 players for the tournament are set to miss out.

According to BSN Sports, the duo of Noussaïr Mazraoui and Roman Saiss are currently down with injuries, and their availability for the AFCON remain doubtful with less than three weeks to the start of the tournament.

Man City go for full house of trophies at Club World Cup

Football

Morocco coach Walid Regragui is no doubt keeping a close eye on Romain Saiss as the length of his absence is still unknown, but Mazraoui, who suffered a left calf injury, is out for the AFCON.

The Atlas Lions, who are tagged as one of the tournament favourites, are in Group F alongside DR Congo, Tanzania and Zambia.

Regragui to announce final squad

Meanwhile, Walid Regragui will hold a press conference on December 28 to announce Morocco’s final list of players who will participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco World News reports.

Top Moroccan stars such as Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech and Soufian Amrabat, who excelled for the Atlas Lions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, are expected to make the final 27-man cut.

Following Regragui's announcement of the final squad at Thursday's press conference, the Moroccan team will convene in Morocco on January 2 for their first training camp in preparation for the continental championship.

Foster, Siyabonga in as Broos names South Africa's preliminary AFCON squad

Football

Morocco has a point to prove

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that at the 2022 World Cup, Morocco became the only African team to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

However, they have not lit up the Africa Cup of Nations for a while. They reached the final in 2004 but lost to Tunisia.

Their only title came in 1976, but their 2022 World Cup performance means they will have to go all the way to the final, at least according to fans.