Hard blow for Morocco.
On the eve of their round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations against South Africa (this Tuesday, 9 p.m.), the Atlas Lions know that they will no longer be able to count on one of their great offensive assets, the former Angevin Sofiane Boufal (30 years old).
The attacking midfielder, starting on the left of the Moroccan 4-1-4-1 during the last two matches of the group stage, was injured during training following the match against Zambia on 24 last January… and will not return by the end of the CAN.
“Boufal is out and his CAN is over,” confirmed Moroccan coach Walid Regragui at a press conference this Monday at the start of the day.
It's a muscle injury.
Unless there is a miracle, it will no longer be available.
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Pictures from the press conference before tomorrow's game against South Africa
🇿 🇦#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/gBjlDquaTD
— Morocco Team (@EnMaroc) January 29, 2024
Counting among the natural favorites for the competition, and even more so after the elimination this Sunday of Egypt in front of the DR Congo, Morocco, semi-finalist of the last World Cup, could also appear in this 8th of final without another major attacker: Hakim Ziyech.
“For Ziyech, if we have to take a risk we will,” assured Regragui.
It is disrespectful to South Africa to say that we can do without Ziyech for an 8th.
He is working hard to come back on time but we will decide at the last minute or even the last second.
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Achraf Hakimi's teammates, who stopped at the quarter-final stage during the previous edition of the CAN, will at least try to do better.
In the event of a victory this Tuesday, the Atlas Lions will face the winner of the Mauritania-Cape Verde match, scheduled for Monday.