Hosts reveal their hand: Hakimi leads top contenders at AFCON

The fact that Morocco are the hosts of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations added to their status as one of the main favourites to win the continental tournament. However, after seeing the 28-man squad the Atlas Lions' head coach, Walid Regragui, chose for the AFCON, the impression remains the same, perhaps even stronger - the Moroccans are the most powerful team in the tournament.

Even though his appearance was under a big question mark because of a harsh ankle injury he suffered in the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar and Morocco captain, Achraf Hakimi, will lead the Moroccans.

Apart from the wing-back, there are also the current and former Man United players, Noussair Mazraoui and Sofyan Amrabat, young prospects Ismael Saibari and Bilal El Khannouss, as well as the Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz.

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The Atlas Lions' offensive line is arguably the strongest part of the team, as ruthless scorers such as Villarreal's Ilias Akhomach, Fenerbahce's Youssef En-Nesyri, Eliesse Ben Seghir of Bayer Leverkusen, and Chemsdine Talbi of Sunderland all made the cut.

After all, the fact that the striker Hamza Igamane, who netted nine times for the French Lille this season, is "only" among the two reserve players speaks volumes of Morocco's might.

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Regragui's team is in Group A at AFCON, alongside Mali, Zambia, and Comoros, against which it will open the tournament on December 21 (22.00).

The Atlas Lions have already proved themselves in the World Cup, becoming the first African national team to reach the WC semi-finals three years ago, and this could be a perfect opportunity for them to claim the continental glory they have been waiting for since 1976, when they won their only Africa Cup of Nations.

MOROCCO SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Munir El Kajoui (Berkane), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Casablanca)

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma), Romain Saiss (Al Sadd), Abdelahamid Aid Boudlal (Rennes), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique Marseille), Adam Masina (Torino), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven)

Midfielders: Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord), Sofyan Amrabat (Fenerbahce), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona)

Forwards: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen)

Reserve players: Youssef Belammari (Raja Casablanca), Hamza Igamane (Lille)