June 24, (THEWILL) – The TotalEnergies Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off with the Morocco U23 team, led by head coach, Issame Charaï, aiming for a powerful start.
As the hosts of the tournament, they will face Guinea in their opening Group A match at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex. Coach Charaï, appreciating the favorable conditions provided by the Federation, is resolute in his commitment to effectively represent the country and avoid any costly mistakes.
Acknowledging Guinea’s formidable qualification, having eliminated a tough opponent like Nigeria, Charaï cautioned against underestimating their upcoming rivals. The coach stressed the need for discipline and unwavering focus, recognising the challenging nature of the game. The Moroccan U23 team can draw inspiration from recent national achievements, such as the senior men’s team reaching the semi-final stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022, the women’s senior team’s successful qualification for the FIFA World Cup, and the U17 team’s commendable performance in the FIFA U17 World Cup.
During a press conference, forward Ismaïl Saibari, hailing from Spain, emphasised the significance of wearing the Moroccan jersey and the love for the national team. Saibari expressed his readiness for the upcoming tournament: “We know why we are here. Every time I wear this red and green tunic, I feel ready for the mission. We can’t fail because our elders showed us the way in the last World Cup and it is now up to us to imitate them.”
Following the match against Guinea, the hosts will face Ghana on June 27, followed by a match against Congo Brazzaville in their final group stage encounter three days later.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
