“We have the Moroccan Deschamps, we can't play football“

Before AFCON began, the overwhelming feeling was that Morocco is the favorite to win the tournament. This African country is not only the best one (fourth at the World Cup, 11th at the FIFA rankings) at the moment, but they are also the hosts of AFCON. And everything was rosy before the start and even the coach Walid Regragui said that he didn‘t stay as a coach “to not win the AFCON“. But everybody is concerned (some are angry too) after the Tanzania game in which the Atlas Lions recorded a slim 1-0 victory, played badly and were ‘saved‘ by the referee who didn‘t award the penalty to the visitors. And now the critiques are all over the place.

AFCON 2025: Brahim Diaz scores again as Morocco send Tanzania packing [VIDEO]

"We're disgusting, we're rubbish. We have the Moroccan Deschamps, we can't play football. It's a disaster, we're shameful, the refereeing is shameful from start to finish, Tanzania should have finished with nine men, there's a penalty at the end. Since the start of the AFCON, we're only here because we're playing at home, because we have some talented players, and because Brahim Diaz is here, but otherwise, we're useless. If we play like this against Cameroon in the quarterfinals, we'll concede four. He's been working for four years and he's been doing whatever he wants, I'm fed up with Regragui" exclaimed the rideshare driver after the game.

Regragui on AFCON: ‘I didn‘t stay to lose‘

Journalist Elton Mokolo claims that Morocco has two opponents: “the one on the pitch and Morocco itself" and is interested to see what will happen in those tense moments, when the opponent is stronger and the pressure comes in. And the pressure is already big outside the pitch.

"The pressure is enormous and it's not just about sports. The players are being asked to be the guarantors of Morocco's infrastructure investments, and that's unfair. This team can only be a catalyst for the strategic vision championed by the King of Morocco, but it can in no way be an end in itself. We have to be reasonable; the team is here, we have to support it. Since we have to win, then the style of play becomes secondary; the important thing is to advance. Today, we should consider ourselves fortunate; nothing is easy. We have to win, to move forward, but the pressure can't be placed solely on the coach. I'm not a big fan of his style of play, but we have to be honest“ he said.

AFCON 2025 - ROUND OF 16

Saturday

Senegal - Sudan 3-1 (2-1)

/Gueye 29, 45+3, Mbaye 77 - Abdallah 6/

Mali - Tunisia 1-1 (3-2 after penalties)

/Sinayoko 90+6 pen - Chaouat 88/

Sunday

Morocco - Tanzania 1-0 (0-0)

/Diaz 64/

South Africa - Cameroon 1-2 (0-1)

/Makgopa 88 - Tchamadeu 34, Kofane 47/

Monday

19.00: (1.48) Egypt (4.10) Benin (7.50)

22.00: (1.40) Nigeria (4.50) Mozambique (8.50)

Tuesday

19.00: (2.00) Algeria (3.35) DR Congo (4.00)

22.00: (1.90) Ivory Coast (3.40) Burkina Faso (4.30)

***odds are subject to change***