Agencies
Morocco coach Walid Regragui has defended African teams following criticism over their defensive display at the World Cup.
He said the African teams have learnt their lessons after playing expansively in previous World Cup tournaments and all that matters now is qualifying from the group.
“As staff, we want to change African mentalities a bit,” Regragui said in his pre-match conference ahead of Morocco’s match with Belgium on Sunday.
“Before, as Africans, we played spectacular matches in the World Cup, but we were eliminated in the first round. Today, I think that Tunisia [who lost 1-0 on Saturday], us and even Senegal yesterday [Friday] proved that you can lose the first match but stay in the race.”
“The goal is to go to the second round. I know some people will be mad at me because they want a show. But it is Saudi Arabia who have three points and not Argentina. We want to qualify, no matter how.”
“The most important thing is to make our country proud. Already, we have done better than in 2018 by snatching a point. We will try to take as many points as possible to qualify.”
“Tomorrow [Sunday], we will be solid, we will try to pose problems and make Africa proud, since we represent it. The most important thing today is that Africa passes the group. We have to prove that we are capable of passing. It requires a European state of mind. If we pass the group, I think we will be very dangerous.”
African teams have scored five goals in Qatar so far, following Ghana’s 3-2 loss to Portugal in their group opener and Senegal’s 3-1 win against Qatar on matchday two.
Morocco have an opportunity to change that when they take on 2018 semi-finalists Belgium on Sunday, having held Croatia to a goalless draw in their opening
match.
The Atlas Lions are chasing only their third World Cup win in what is their sixth appearance at the tournament, having won in the 1986 and 1998 editions.
