African Cup of Nations Preview: Morocco

It’s now 15 days until the African Cup of Nations begins, which is just enough time to profile the 15 remaining teams (we had a look at Ghana yesterday.) Staying in Group A, we move on to Morocco.

The Atlas Lions surprisingly did away with the coach who got them to the 26th African Cup of Nations to bring back an old favourite, and have recently recalled a rickety goalkeeper, lost a key midfielder to injury and dropped two of their famous European based players. Come on in and meet Morocco.

Nickname: The Atlas Lions

Jersey: Green shirt with red shoulder trim, green shorts, red socks (home.) White shirt with red shoulder trim, white shorts, green socks (away.)

Geography: “Situated on the northwestern corner of Africa, Morocco is bordered with Algeria to the east and southeast, Mauritania to the south and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.” - The Africa Guide

History: Morocco won the African Cup of Nations in 1976 with a dramatic late goal from Ahmed “Baba” Meghrouh. Back then there wasn’t a final, but a final group of four. In the last game Morocco needed a draw against Guinea to be crowned champions but trailed to a first half goal with time running out. But “Baba” netted the equaliser in the 86th minute making the 1976 team (pictured) the first and so far only Moroccan team to win the African Cup of Nations. Morocco were also runners-up as recently as 2004, but just the single ACN win for a team considered one of the top African nations is pretty poor.

Morocco went to the World Cup in 1970, 1986, 1994 and 1998. They made it to the second round just once in 1986, but did so by winning their World Cup group, the first African team to do so. Failed to qualify for the last two World Cups.

Manager: Henri Michel, an experienced French coach now in his second spell in charge of Morocco (first time was from 1995-2000.) Has also coached France, Cameroon, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and took the Ivory Coast to World Cup 2006. Michel was brought in to replace Mohammed Fakhir, who will have been surprised to lose his job after successfully steering his team through African Cup of Nations qualification.

FIFA World Ranking: 39

Expectations: Striker Marouane Chamakh is backing his team to win the African Cup of Nations, reasoning that “We have almost the same squad as 2004, but everyone has more experience.” The Atlas Lions should be comfortable second favourites in Group A after Ghana, and will expect to have wins against Guinea and Namibia in the bag before facing the hosts. But don’t bet on it as Morocco have often struggled to get out of the group stages at the ACN. The Moroccan team consistently underachieves for all the talent available, making The Atlas Lions a bit like the Spain of Africa.

Pros: Morocco have reversed a trend by persuading European born players of African heritage to represent the country of their ancestors. Star striker Marouane Chamakh (pictured right, more on him below) was born in France and came through the Bordeaux youth academy, but chose to represent the Atlas Lions. He offers Morocco a genuine threat up front. More on him below.

Attacking mid Youssouf Hadji also plays in Ligue 1, where he’s been in good form for Nancy. He’ll possibly play behind Chamakh and the two could form a potent partnership. In midfield Youssef Safri is a reliable passer of the ball and a tough tackler of men (just ask Colin Healy.) In defence, Talal El Karkouri is a rock with both Ligue 1 and English Premier League experience, Dynamo Kiev’s Badr El Kaddouri is by all accounts very solid while right back Michaël Chrétien is a former French youth international and a mainstay in Ligue 1 with Nancy.

Cons: Important midfielder Mbark Boussoufa was born and raised in Holland and came through the legendary Ajax youth academy before moving first to Chelsea and then to Belgium, where he’s shone for first Genk and now Anderlecht. In 2006 he had to choose between the Netherlands and Morocco, and chose the Atlas Lions. Unfortunately Boussoufa is injured and will miss out on the tournament.

Michel has gambled with his squad selection by recalling goalkeeper Khalid Fouhami, whose error cost Morocco the 2006 African Cup of Nations final against Egypt, and dropping big names like Espanyol striker Mohamed El Yaagoubi (or Moha to his fans) and Rotterdam midfielder Nourdin Boukhari.

Player to Watch: Keep an eye on Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, Morocco’s most dangerous striker. The 23 year old is 6′1″ and dangerous in the air but also elegant and composed on the ball and smart with his movements off it. These two clips of Chamakh in Ligue 1 action for Bordeaux illustrate how the guys is equally dangerous with his head…

…or with his feet.

Team Blog? Yes indeed. Mahmoud will be keeping us informed of everything Atlas Lions related via the Morocco blog.

Fixtures: In Group A with Guinea, Namibia and Ghana.
Morocco vs Namibia (Accra, 21st January, 15:00)
Morocco vs Guinea (Accra, 24th January, 19:30)
Morocco vs Ghana (Accra, 28th January, 17:00)

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Abdelilah Bagui (Maghreb Fes), Khalid Fouhami (Raja Casablanca), Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca)

Defenders: Jamal Alioui (FC Sion Switzerland), Abdessamad Chahiri (Difaa El Jadida), Mickael Chretien (Nancy, France), Talal El Karkouri (Qatar SC, Qatar), El Armine Erbate (Al Dafra, United Arab Emiratyes), Hicham Mahdoufi (Metalist Kharkiv, Ukraine), Abdeslam Ouaddou (Valenciennes, France)

Midfielders: Soufiane Alloudi (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Badr El Kaddouri (Dinamo Kyiv, Ukraine), Abderrahmane Kabous (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria), Houcine Kharja (Piacenza, Italy), Abdelkrim Kissi (EN Paralimini, Cyprus), Youssef Safri (Southampton, England), Tarik Sektioui (FC Porto, Portugal)

Forwards: Hicham Aboucherouane (Esperance, Tunisia), Maroune Chamakh (Girondins Bordeaux, France), Bouchaib El Moubarki (Grenoble, France), Youssef Hadji (Nancy, France), Youssef Moukhtari (Al Jazeera, Qatar), Moncef Zerka (Nancy, France).

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