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2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Group D preview

By Liam Bekker

12 April 2019, Egypt, Giza: Retired Cameroonian footballer Rigobert Song (R) stands on stage next to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy during the draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations at the Pyramids of Giza. The championship is scheduled to take place in Egypt between 21 June and 19 July 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramadan/dpa (Photo by Ahmed Ramadan/picture alliance via Getty Images)
12 April 2019, Egypt, Giza: Retired Cameroonian footballer Rigobert Song (R) stands on stage next to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy during the draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations at the Pyramids of Giza. The championship is scheduled to take place in Egypt between 21 June and 19 July 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramadan/dpa (Photo by Ahmed Ramadan/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – SEPTEMBER 08: Players of Morocco celebrate after scoring a goal during 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group B soccer match between Morocco and Malawi at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco on September 08, 2018. (Photo by Jalal Morchidi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – SEPTEMBER 08: Players of Morocco celebrate after scoring a goal during 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group B soccer match between Morocco and Malawi at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco on September 08, 2018. (Photo by Jalal Morchidi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

Morocco

Under the guidance of two-time winning coach Herve Renard, Morocco will be making their 17th Africa Cup of Nations appearance during this year’s competition. The North Africans are former champions themselves having won the title in 1976 and are the fourth-highest ranked nation taking part.

Qualification

Morocco enjoyed a strong qualification campaign in which they trumped Cameroon, Malawi and Comoros to claim top spot. The Moroccans lost only one match, their opening encounter against Cameroon en route to qualifying for the tournament.

Hakim Ziyech was the nation’s leading goalscorer with three goals which included a brace against Cameroon in the return leg. That result which ultimately saw Morocco pip their opponents in the league standings on head-to-head goal difference.

The squad

Incredibly, 18 of Morocco’s 23-man squad were born outside of Morocco, with the majority hailing from the Netherlands and France. Renard has also selected a predominantly European-based squad with only three players playing in the domestic league. Abdelkrim Baadi is one of those players but the defender was only chosen after Abderrazak Hamdallah was dropped last week.

The most notable absentees include the Schalke pairing of Hamza Mendyl and Amine Harit while veteran defender Manuel da Costa and prolific goalscorer, Ayoub El Kaabi were both overlooked for selection.

Key player: Hakim Ziyech

Despite having once vowed never to play under Herve Renard again, Ziyech reconciled with his coach after a falling out to become his nation’s star player. His role in qualifying was vital towards Morocco reaching the Africa Cup of Nations and he will once again be the key man heading into the tournament.

The Dutch-born 26-year old is the only player in the squad to have scored more than 10 international goals and will be the focal point of all of his nation’s attacking play. Alongside the likes of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, he will be one of the players to watch at this year’s tournament.

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