Assahafa.com
Morocco’s national coach Walid Regragui said on Friday in Salé that the objective of the Moroccan football team, which will face Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25 respectively, is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as quickly as possible.
“We’re lucky to be playing on home turf in these two games, which won’t be easy. Our opponents will certainly be making things harder, but we are well prepared for that,” Regragui stated during a press conference at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora (suburb of Salé).
The kick-off for these two games, which are part of Matchday 5 and Matchday 6 (Group E) of the World Cup qualifiers, is scheduled for 9.30 p.m. at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda.
“The team’s margin for improvement is increasing. We still have ten days to evolve. The most important thing is to win,” he continued.
According to Regragui, the national team is “lucky to have players with dual nationalities opting for Morocco, much earlier than before”, stating that the files of these selectable players are taken in hand by himself and by the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
In this sense, he pointed out that the young Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouadi (17) is one of football’s great future players. “We’ll be delighted if he opts for Morocco”, he said.
The offer stands for RC Lens player Neil El Aynaoui as well, according to Regragui. “I need players who are 100% committed and who want to earn their place,” he insisted.
As for Athletic Bilbao striker Maroan Sanadi, Regragui said he is on the shortlist. “He’s new to La Liga, but he needs to perform and score goals. The striker position is key in the national team,” he mentioned.
“There’s a lot of competition and a lot of choice. This new situation obliges us to eliminate some good players”, he regretted, pointing out that the new players called up are selected on the basis of their performance and their ability to integrate the group.
Concerning the Moroccan defense’s central axis, Regragui assured us that the national team has no urgent problems in this position.
As for Hakim Ziyech, Regragui explains, “he’s a player who has given a lot to the national team. He’s a talented player. We hope to see him at the top of his game”.
Meanwhile, Walid Regragui was full of praise for Niger coach Badou Zaki. “He’s a great man and a legend of Moroccan football who has an incredible asset to the national game”, he said, noting that it was ‘a source of pride to see two Moroccan coaches playing in a World Cup qualifier’.
“In the history of the national team, we’ve never had two such great goalkeepers as Yassine Bounou et Munir Mohamedi.(…) But Yassine has been the No.1 choice since I joined the national team. Munir is the second N.1 who also deserves his spot”, he maintained.
In previous World Cup-2026 qualifiers, the Atlas Lions beat Tanzania (2-0), Zambia (2-1) and Congo (6-0).
Morocco currently top their group with 9 points, ahead of Niger and Tanzania, who are tied at 2nd place with 6 points. Zambia are fourth with 4 points.
Source: map
