Walid Regragui, the national coach and head coach of the Moroccan senior team, confirmed the readiness of most of the Atlas Lions to face the strong confrontation against the Nigerian team, scheduled for tomorrow evening, Wednesday, in the semifinal of the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finals, except for midfielder Azeddine Ounahi who is still suffering from injury.

The Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat will host this African summit starting at nine in the evening, in a match where the national team aspires to reach the continental final.

During the press conference preceding the match, Regragui explained that preparations are going positively with high focus, saying: “We continue our preparations for the semifinal after reaching this stage for the first time in years. We will face a strong team, but we are ready to achieve victory and reach the final match.”

Regarding the players' health status, the coach of the “Lions” confirmed that Ounahi is still out of consideration, while Romain Saïss has returned to training, with his participation to be decided after the last training session, adding: “Except for Ounahi, all players are ready.”

Concerning the tactical aspect, Regragui emphasized that taking risks is sometimes necessary but calculated, praising what the team showed in the quarterfinal, saying: “We delivered a good match that satisfied everyone with the performance. We are in good physical and mental condition, and we will face Nigeria, who have regained their true level after failing to qualify for the World Cup.”

The national coach also addressed the controversy related to refereeing, considering it a global issue not limited to Africa, explaining: “Unfortunately, refereeing is always talked about. The controversy exists on all continents, and we ourselves have suffered from refereeing mistakes in previous matches. Some try to diminish the value of African football, but the real response is only on the field, through winning.”

Regragui also expressed his frustration with the continuous criticism, saying: “In Morocco, the coach is always under pressure and criticism, even after victories. I fight for my country, and I hope that the coach who will replace me in the future achieves better results than me.”

He concluded his speech by affirming the strength of both teams, saying: “We have among us the best players in the African continent, and the same goes for the Nigerian team, which makes the match strong and open to all possibilities.”