Morocco World Cup Preview: New Coach, Ziyech’s Return Alter Outlook

Major developments close to the start of the World Cup have changed the game for the Atlas Lions, whose group won’t do them any favors.

After missing out on four straight World Cups from 2002 to 2014, the Atlas Lions have now qualified for two straight tournaments. For a two-year stretch from 2019 to 2021 that included a significant chunk of World Cup qualifying, Morocco didn’t lose a game. Then, after dropping out in the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, Morocco clinched its place in Qatar with a playoff win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But any appearance of stability soon took a hit after manager Vahid Halilhodžić, who had led the team through that unbeaten run and World Cup qualification, was dismissed due to what the Moroccan federation called disagreements about World Cup preparation (it bizarrely also marked the third time Halilhodžić failed to coach a team at the World Cup after clinching qualification)

After Halilhodžić’s firing, which came just three months before the World Cup, the Atlas Lions appointed former Morocco defender Walid Regragui to lead the team in Qatar. Regragui, 47, led Wydad Casablanca to a Moroccan league and African Champions League double last season, but will have his work cut out for him in a tough group on short notice.

Group F Schedule (all times Eastern)

- Croatia, Nov. 23, 5 a.m.

- Belgium, Nov. 27, 8 a.m.

- Canada, Dec. 1, 10 a.m.

Coach

Walid Regragui, hired in August 2022

Players to Watch

Achraf Hakimi, fullback

The 24-year-old is the team’s clear star. With a mix of deft passing ability and technical defensive acumen, Hakimi is an incredible talent at right back, although with Morocco he often plays on the left to allow for some of the team’s other talent to take the field on the right. Garnering experience with some of Europe’s best clubs (Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan), Hakimi has staked his claim as one of the best fullbacks in the world at Paris Saint-Germain over the last year.

Hakim Ziyech, winger

The Chelsea man seems to have put his national team drama behind him and is back in the side just in time to bolster a Moroccan attack in Qatar. Halilhodžić exiled Ziyech for reportedly refusing to play in a friendly earlier this year, but Regragui brought the star back into the picture for the last two friendlies. No one in the active squad has scored more goals than Ziyech’s 17 for Morocco, and he will be counted upon to deliver for the Atlas Lions in order to prove that bringing him back into the squad was the right call.

Youssef En-Nesyri, forward

For Morocco to deal with the physical defensive presences of both Belgium and Croatia, En-Nesyri will be key up front. The Sevilla striker is great in the air and a major threat on set pieces. However, the 25-year-old forward has not scored a league goal for Sevilla this season after 23 in the last two years combined. The Atlas Lions will need him to reverse that form in order—and add to his World Cup total after he scored against Spain in 2018—to give them their best chance in Qatar.

Breakout Candidate

Noussair Mazraoui, fullback

Morocco has loads of talent at the fullback positions, and it doesn’t all reside on Hakimi’s side. Mazraoui brings plenty of attacking prowess and a big-club mentality to the Atlas Lions. Mazraoui was a favorite at Ajax under former manager Erik ten Hag, scoring five goals in 35 appearances last season, before moving to Bayern Munich in the summer. At Bayern, the 24-year-old has become a fixture in Champions League play and has featured prominently under Regragui.

World Cup History

- Sixth appearance

- Last appearance: 2018 (Group stage)

- Best finish: Round of 16 in 1986

Outlook and Expectations

Morocco is the first African nation to advance to the knockout stage at the World Cup, but making the knockouts in Qatar will require a Herculean effort similar to the one in 1986 in Mexico when it shared a group with England, Portugal and Poland. It will be difficult to imagine any coach, let alone one like Regragui without any international experience, to come in and make that happen.

Morocco will rely heavily on its stars, with a strong group of experienced attackers leading the way like Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal, but its midfield is light on top-level talent and will be exposed by the midfield machines of Belgium and Croatia. Meanwhile, outside of the fullback positions, its defense is lacking at center half. Morocco’s best chance at points will come in its final group game against Canada, but it may not matter if it can’t steal points off Belgium and Croatia. 

World Cup Squad

GOALKEEPERS: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir Mohamedi (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad AC)

DEFENDERS: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad AC), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Achraf Dari (Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Roman Saiss (Besiktas)

MIDFIELDERS: Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Bilal El Khannous (Genk), Amine Harit (Marseille), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad AC), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria)

FORWARDS: Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)

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