SOCCER: Hosts Morocco face heavy burden of expectation at Cup of Nations

RABAT — Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco are putting their best foot forward with sparkling stadiums and significantly improved facilities for the 24 competing teams, but the pressure on their own footballers to deliver the title could prove stifling.

Africa’s top-ranked team were semi-finalists at the last World Cup, have won a record 18 matches in a row, and boast a star-studded squad featuring players based at leading European clubs, making them clear favorites for the title.

Despite their prominence in African football, however, Morocco have lifted the Cup of Nations only once — nearly half a century ago. They were strongly fancied at the last four editions of the tournament but failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals.

Home advantage should boost their chances, yet sellout stadiums and a passionate home crowd could also prove intimidating, especially when combined with the responsibility of meeting expectations following the extensive organizational effort behind the tournament.

“We have to win the Cup of Nations,” coach Walid Regragui said at a press conference last month.

“At home, we’ll be tough to play against. We’ve proven that. We’ve progressed and rejuvenated the team,” he said, referring to the disappointment of Morocco’s last-16 defeat by South Africa at the previous finals two years ago.

“We’ve integrated young players while maintaining our core strengths. We are coming into this tournament with confidence, but nothing is guaranteed.”

Sparkling Stadiums

Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain, is staging the Cup of Nations across nine stadiums in six cities — a first for the African championship.

The hosts will play their first three matches at the newly refurbished Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, which has a capacity of 68,700 and will also stage the opening match and the final.

A rebuilt 75,000-seat stadium in Tangier will be used through the semifinals, while additional venues are located in Agadir, Casablanca, Fes, and Marrakech.

Morocco face a stiff challenge from a formidable field. Half of the 24 participating teams have previously won the Cup of Nations, and seven have qualified for next year’s World Cup.

Defending champions Ivory Coast, along with Nigeria and Senegal, lead the West African contingent, while Algeria and Egypt are strong contenders from North Africa.

Egypt, who have won the tournament a record seven times, last lifted the trophy in 2010. This edition could represent Mohamed Salah’s final opportunity to add a major international title to his decorated club career.

His controversial outburst at Liverpool earlier this month has only heightened the scrutiny he will face in Morocco.

There are no tournament newcomers this year, although Botswana and Comoros are appearing for only the second time. Comoros famously eliminated Ghana at the 2021 finals in Cameroon and will be thrust straight into the spotlight again when they face Morocco in the opening match on Sunday. -Writing by Mark Gleeson in Rabat; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters