AFCON 2023 GROUP F Preview: Morocco charts course through uncharted terrain with East, South, Central Africa foes
(Made In Africa Sport) – The Atlas Lions of Morocco find themselves far from home after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) fixture match-ups saw them seeded among teams across all regions of the continent.
Converging on Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, the North African giant will lock horns with Tanzania from East, Zambia from South, and DR Congo from Central Africa.
Morocco caused quite the stir with their outing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, setting the record for the grandest showing of an African national team, and gaffer Walid Regragui will be looking for more of the same at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
They have maintained a constant presence in the Africa Cup of Nations since winning the trophy in 1976, making them one of the most formidable teams on the continent. The Atlas Lions have also been runners-up twice, losing to Nigeria and Tunisia in 1980 and 2004 respectively, although they have failed to pick the bronze position on two occasions, in 1986 and 1988. Morocco has not made an appearance in the semis since defeating Mali 4 – 0 in 2004, but they are heavily tipped for success this timeout.
Since taking over in August 2022, head coach Walid Regragui has led the Atlas Lions to unprecedented success, landing them a spot in the 2022 World Cup semis while conceding just a goal in their previous games. Their squad list comprises many players from the World Cup squad, including skipper Romain Saiss, Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Soyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, and Youssef En-Nesyri, and one can expect solid contributions from them in Cote d’Ivoire.
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Zambia is another top contestant in Group F destined to give Morocco some trouble in their run for gold. The Chipolopolo have been impressive throughout Africa Cup of Nations history, coming close to glory in 1974 and 1994 before eventually clinching the trophy for themselves in 2012 against this year’s hosts, Cote d’Ivoire. They have also finished in third-place three times, first in 1982, then in 1990 and 1996, and are a team to look out for in the AFCON 2023.
Leicester City forward Patson Daka will be spearheading the forward lines for Zambia after finding his feet in the English club. Lubambo Musonda, Fashion Sakala, and Lameck Banda are other members of the team who will be influential in the Chipolopolo’s progress this year.
DR Congo will certainly make things even more lively in Group F, given their rich Africa Cup of Nations history and experienced squad. Chancel Mbemba will be leading Sebastien Desabre’s men to Cote d’Ivoire, a squad that still has Yoanne Wissa, Cedric Bakambu, Arthur Masuaku, and Gael Kakuta. The Leopards have won the AFCON title once in 1968, and have only gone as far as bronze finishes since then, in 1998 and 2015.
Tanzania is the group’s outlier, as this is only their third appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations. They qualified for the continental tournament in 1980 and 2019, exiting after the group stages on both occasions. Forward Feisal Salum is tipped to make a difference for the Taifas Stars, who look a different side from their last AFCON campaign in 2019.
It will be quite a rumble in Group F; there is little to be certain of, and we can look forward to the action as it unfolds next Wednesday, 17 January 2024, when Morocco takes on Tanzania at the Laurent Pokou stadium by 6:00 pm.
