Morocco Faces Zambia Amid Major Challenges in the 2025 African Nations Championship
Tarik Sektioui, coach of the Moroccan local team, confirmed the difficult task ahead for the “Lions” as they face Zambia in the third round of the group stage of the 2025 African Nations Championship, following a mixed start for the team in the tournament.
Morocco began the championship with a 2-0 victory over Angola, but stumbled against Kenya in the second round, where the team showed a lackluster performance, sparking widespread debate over the coaching staff’s tactical choices. Despite the criticism, Sektioui emphasized that such situations are normal, especially since some players joined the training camp without having participated in any prior training sessions, forcing the technical staff to make choices suitable for each player’s physical condition.
Sektioui explained that the current phase requires a professional approach to ensure qualification for the next round, noting that while a player may excel at their club, mental motivation and physical readiness will be crucial for achieving results, especially in intense matches like the one against Zambia.
He added that modern football no longer recognizes significant differences between teams, with outcomes being decided on the pitch over 90 minutes. He believes that focus and seriousness in every match will be the key factors for a strong comeback in the qualification race after the setback against Kenya.
The match against Zambia is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, at 15:00 Moroccan time and 17:00 Mecca time, with the Moroccan national team determined to correct its course and secure victory to enhance its chances of progressing to the next round.
