“We must be humble”: Walid Regragui issues warning ahead of AFCON R16

By Moukam deugoue in Morocco

‘Under-fire’ Walid Regragui has urged AFCON hosts Morocco to remain humble ahead of their Round of 16 encounter against Tanzania on Sunday, January 4.

The Atlas Lions head issued a stern warning to his squad, highlighting that arrogance is an enemy of progress.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s crucial direct-elimination match against Tanzania, Regragui emphasized that the Atlas Lions must respect their opponents to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

Ending the Cycle of Overconfidence

Morocco enters the match as heavy favorites, but the weight of history hangs over the squad. It has been 50 years since the nation last lifted the AFCON trophy, a drought Regragui believes has been prolonged by a lack of humility in previous campaigns.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground,” Regragui told reporters. “Morocco hasn’t won the AFCON in 50 years, partly because we haven’t always remained humble. In the past, we were sometimes eliminated by teams considered ‘footballistically’ inferior to us.”

The coach noted that while the talent in the Moroccan dressing room is undeniable—with stars featuring in the world’s top leagues—talent alone does not win knockout games. “Our mentality and discipline will be key. There are always surprises in these matches, but it is up to us to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Defensive Generals Return

In a major boost for the Atlas Lions, defensive mainstays Achraf Hakimi and Romain Saïss are back and fully fit. Their return provides a massive psychological and tactical lift for a team that cannot afford any defensive lapses in the game.

Captain Romain Saïss, who has been working tirelessly to return to peak condition after unfortunately pulling his hamstring in the game against the Comoros Island, echoed his coach’s sentiments regarding the mental approach to the game.

“I am feeling much better. I’ve been working psychologically and physically to be present for the team,” Saïss said. “We can’t underestimate the opponent or repeat the mistakes of the past. We have to stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves.”

The Hakimi Factor

While Achraf Hakimi is medically cleared to play, Regragui remains cautious about his starting lineup. The PSG star was rested during the group stage and handed peanut minutes to ensure he was fresh for the knockout rounds.

“Achraf is physically ready for the match tomorrow, but it is up to me to decide if he starts,” Regragui explained. “He didn’t play the first two games because we wanted him fresh for this stage. Now, we will see what happens.

A New Competition Starts Now

For Regragui, the group stage is a distant memory. Tomorrow’s clash with Tanzania represents a “new competition” where the margin for error is zero. Having played Tanzania recently, the Moroccan staff is well aware of the challenges they pose.

“This is direct elimination. We don’t have a choice,” Regragui concluded. “We know it isn’t going to be easy, as we saw in the Comoros and Zambia games. We are at home, playing in front of our own fans, and we are going to give our all to qualify.”