Morocco national team head coach, Walid Regragui, has called on Moroccans to play their part in helping the Atlas Lions overcome Nigeria in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, Footynaija.comreports.
Morocco have been impressive hosts at this year’s tournament with a near perfect record to their name. The Atlas Lions recorded two wins and a draw in the group stage before dispatching Tanzania and Cameroon respectively to reach this stage.
Now standing between Morocco and a place in the final is an in-form Nigeria side aiming to reach a second consecutive AFCON final and Regragui is hoping the home supporters can be his team’s 12th player on Wednesday.
“Cameroon came with confidence and one of their players (Christian Kofane of Bayer Leverkusen) said the Moroccan fans are like the Dortmund fans he has faced, but it was a big mistake on his part,” the Morocco boss said in his pre-match press conference.
“When you play in Morocco you are facing only Moroccan fans, not Dortmund or Madrid fans. This stadium is always different for opponents and you will always feel it when you are on the pitch.
“I hope tomorrow the Moroccan fans will do their best to show the opponent that it’s very different to win in Morocco.”
While Morocco will certainly have the advantage of home support at the 65,000 capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, securing victory over Nigeria in Wednesday’s clash will be no mean feat.
The Super Eagles come into this tie in flawless form, having won all of their previous games in the competition so far. They’ll arrive in Rabat buoyed by their dominant quarter-final display against Algeria.
For all of Morocco’s home advantage, Regragui will be fully aware that his team must match Nigeria’s breathtaking intensity if they are to keep their dream of lifting the AFCON crown on home soil alive.
