Morocco and Regragui Feel Pressure Before High-Profile Afcon Quarter-Finals
The African Cup of Nations (Afcon) quarter-finals are set to be a thrilling affair, with several high-profile matches and intense pressure on some of the tournament's favorites. The defending champions, Côte d’Ivoire, secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso, joining a powerful group of quarter-finalists that includes seven former champions with a combined 22 Cup of Nations wins. This marks the first time all eight quarter-finalists are ranked in the top 10 African sides by FIFA.
However, the tournament has been somewhat predictable, especially after Ghana's disqualification. The closest surprises were Mali's win over Tunisia and Cameroon's victory over South Africa. Now, the tournament needs its giants to step up and deliver.
Côte d’Ivoire faces a challenging task in the quarter-finals, as they haven't beaten Egypt since 1990. They lost to Egypt in the final in 2006 and the last 16 in 2022, with the most recent defeat being a 4-1 loss in the semi-final in 2008, where Amr Zaki embarrassed Kolo Touré. Despite not being as star-studded as their 2008 squad, the current Côte d’Ivoire team is coherent and has Amad Diallo, who scored and assisted in their win over Burkina Faso.
Egypt, on the other hand, has yet to find a balance between Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, making them less effective than expected. Algeria, another strong contender, defeated DR Congo with a last-minute goal, setting up a quarter-final match against Nigeria, the only other team with a perfect record of four wins.
Nigeria has been the best attacking side, with 12 goals in four games, thanks to the superb partnership of Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. However, their defense has been shaky, with only one clean sheet against Mozambique. Algeria, under Vladimir Petkovic, is a flexible and intelligent team that will challenge Nigeria.
Morocco, the hosts and favorites, are under pressure despite being the only African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. Coach Walid Regragui has been booed by the crowd, facing criticism for his safety-first approach. The government's massive investment in football ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host, has led to street protests and questions about priorities, especially after the floods in Safi.
Regragui's conservative tactics have been questioned, as a B team under Tarik Sektioui played more progressive football and won the Arab Cup. Sektioui is seen as a potential successor. Morocco's opponents, Cameroon, are in disarray, with two different coaches and a chaotic squad list. However, they have found coherence under David Pagou and play dynamic football.
Senegal, another former winner, has a strong squad but struggles to find the right balance in midfield. They face Mali, a country with a brief history in the Mali Federation, in a match that will be a test of their resolve.
The Afcon quarter-finals promise exciting matches, with the pressure on favorites like Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire, and the emergence of stubborn outsiders like Cameroon and Mali. The tournament's unpredictability adds to the excitement, as even the starriest teams can be challenged by determined underdogs.
