It’s the big day for Morocco! After a successful World Cup, with a semi-final, the Atlas Lions now want to reign on their continent. Achraf Hakimi’s teammates kick off their African Cup of Nations this Wednesday against Tanzania. Another match on the program, the Democratic Republic of Congo against Zambia, who pulled off a huge surprise by winning the CAN in 2012.
Fact of the day: Cheikhou Kouyaté bereaved
Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté has been allowed to leave the team to attend his father’s funeral, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced on Tuesday. The death of the player’s father occurred on Tuesday in Dakar, and the funeral will be held this Wednesday, said the FSF, presenting “its most saddened condolences to Cheikhou Kouyaté”.
Senegal, reigning African champion, began its CAN with a victory against Gambia (3-0) on Monday in Yamoussoukro, in which Kouyaté did not participate. The Terenga Lions play their next match on Friday against Cameroon, still in Yamoussoukro.
Match of the day: Morocco-Tanzania
Almost half a century since Morocco last won the African Cup of Nations. So, after a surprising World Cup, with an elimination in the semi-final by France, supporters of the Atlas Lions have high hopes for this CAN, where Morocco is one of the favorites. But who says favorites, says danger. Since the start of the competition, apart from Senegal and Ivory Coast, all the favorites have had complicated starts.
“We know that we are expected, but we have known that since the World Cup. We are expected by everyone, explained Moroccan coach Walid Regragui. It’s a new status, we have to accept it, we learned to grow with it during the year. We saw that in all the matches we played, there was a surplus of motivation among the opponent, like us, we had it at the World Cup when we played teams more upscale than us. »
In a group within its reach, Morocco will be able to count on a big selection, with players like Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Hakim Ziyech, Amine Harit, Amine Adli or Youssef En-Nesyri.
Player of the day: Stoppila Sunzu
It was the big surprise of the African Cup of Nations in 2012. Arriving without any pretension in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the Chipolopolos led by Hervé Renard, beat Senegal or Ghana before winning in the final, on penalties, against Ivory Coast. Since then, the Zambians, who face the Democratic Republic of Congo this Wednesday, have fallen back into anonymity a little, just like Stoppila Sunzu.
After the victory in 2012, the central defender arrived in the suitcases of Hervé Renard at Sochaux in 2014. He followed him again to Lille, without much success. Also passing through Metz, Sunzu is now doing seasons in China. Before finding Hervé Renard on Fran’s team…? Oh, no, that’s not possible.
Supporters of the day:
