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On Saturday, national coach Walid Regragui stated that the Moroccan squad, preparing to face Tanzania in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), has great respect for their rivals and is committed to preventing any surprising difficulties.

“The game will be tough. Our goal is to win and progress to the quarterfinals,” Regragui said at a press conference before the match, set to take place on Sunday at 5:00 PM at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

“For Morocco, both the team members and the players, this competition is about humility,” the national coach emphasized. “We need to stay humble and focused. Everyone considers us as the favorites,” he mentioned.

“Tanzania has a robust league featuring skilled local athletes who are familiar with African competitions. We will face this game using all our resources and strength to avoid any unexpected outcomes. Anything is possible in this match,” he said.

Concerning Achraf Hakimi, Regragui stated that he has always provided updates on the player’s health condition. «The strategy was to slowly increase his strength and bring him into the game at the appropriate time. He is physically prepared and fit to participate in tomorrow’s match», he confirmed.

Furthermore, the coach praised Ayoub El Kaabi’s outstanding performance, having scored three goals in this AFCON, as a «role model for young athletes». «He never quit. Hard work and commitment are crucial traits. He is clear about his objectives. Ayoub serves as an inspiration for young Moroccans», he added.

The national squad finished first in Group A with 7 points, achieving two wins over Comoros (2-0) and Zambia (3-0), along with a tie against Mali (1-1).

On the other hand, Tanzania progressed as the top third-place team from Group C, earning 2 points after losing to Nigeria (1-2) and drawing matches against Uganda (1-1) and Tunisia (1-1).