Humility is the key to winning South Africa clash, says Morocco boss Regragui

Morocco coach Walid Regragui played down the favourite tag for his side as they geared up for their last-16 clash against South Africa at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday night.

Walid Regragui's Morocco entered the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as the continent's top tanked team. They take on South Africa in the last-16 in San Pedro. REUTERS - KAI PFAFFENBACH

"It's a knockout match," said the 47-year-old. "It's a change of competition. We can't afford to make any mistakes. We've done well so far, but we want to do better."

Morocco entered the 34th Cup of Nations as Africa's top team in the Fifa rankings.

That berth followed a historic surge at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where they became the first side from Africa to reach the last four at the competition.

Just over a year on from that success, they are under pressure to garland that status with the continental title.

They came through their group on the back of two wins and a draw but go into the tie at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro with doubts. South Africa are the only side to have beaten them in the 12 games since their surge at the World Cup.

Challenge

"We have a lot of respect for South Africa," added Regragui. "We're not in a favourable position, which is why I'm insisting on my group's humility. South Africa were the last team to beat us on the continent."

Regragui will have to do without the creative services of Sofiane Boufal who was injured in training over the weekend.

“I think his Cup of Nations is over," said Regragui. "And so we’ve lost an important player."

Striker Hakim Ziyech, who hobbled off at half-time during the final pool game against Zambia on 24 January could also be absent.

Morocco's Hakim Ziyech celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between Morocco and Zambia at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro, Côte d'Ivoire, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. © AP / Sunday Alamba

“The decision for Ziyech will be made at the last minute or last second,” Regragui added.

"We will do our best to get him on the pitch and if we have to take a risk, we will take it because we want our best players on the pitch."

Despite his players facing an array of talent from the leading European leagues, South Africa coach Hugo Broos insisted his squad can hold their own.

"This tournament has been full of surprises as we've seen from the start," said the 71-year-old Belgian who steered Cameroon to the title in 2017 in Gabon.

"We beat Morocco last year and we can do it again. Anything is possible and we want to create another surprise in this competition.

"We're confident, we believe in ourselves and in what we can do."

The winner of the tie will face Cape Verde on 3 February for a place in the semi-final.