Following Morocco’s victory against Mozambique (1-0) at the Grand Stadium of Tangier, Hoalid Regragui expressed overall satisfaction with his players’ performance. For the coach, this first test of November allowed for an expansion of options and experimentation with new configurations… without losing the team’s solidity.
In a press conference, Regragui explained that he took advantage of this match to modify certain roles while maintaining the core structure of the group: “Today, we have many weapons and different ways of playing,” he noted, referring to a squad capable of adapting to various scenarios.
Total domination, despite a tight score
The national coach emphasized that the match was one-sided, with Yassine Bounou having a quiet evening without any significant interventions. Mozambique, on the other hand, did not register a single shot on target. The only blemish was the missed penalty that could have definitively sealed the score. “We had opportunities to break the deadlock, but we did not capitalize on them.”
Tactically, Regragui stressed the principles that have guided the Lions for several months: ball control, patience in build-up play, and the ability to break down low defensive blocks. According to him, even when they score less, the Atlas Lions know how to manage their matches, which explains their exceptional streak: 17 consecutive victories in official matches.
The public and confidence as driving forces
The coach took a moment to commend the massive presence of supporters—nearly 61,000 spectators—and called for maintaining this momentum. He even cited the example of the U17 team, which was propelled by its fans to the Round of 16 of the World Cup despite a difficult start. “The confidence of the fans matters immensely,” he emphasized.
Regragui also highlighted several individual performances, particularly those of Romain Saïss, Azzedine Ounahi (who scored in the 7th minute), Hamza Igamane, and Anass Salah-Eddine, who made his debut with the Lions.
A solid defense despite absentees
When asked about the injuries of Achraf Hakimi and Nayef Aguerd, Regragui aimed to reassure. He reminded that Morocco often manages to finish its matches without conceding, even in the absence of key defensive players. “I am confident in the solidity of our defense. I have complete faith in my players,” he concluded.
Morocco will continue its preparation on Tuesday with a second friendly match, this time against Uganda, still in Tangier.
