Morocco's Home Ambition: Can the Atlas Lions Defend AFCON 2025?

Morocco Aims to Defend AFCON on Home Soil

The Moroccan national team, under coach Walid Regragui, is chasing the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2025, on home soil and in front of its fans.

Morocco's Atlas Lions have only won the continental title once, back in 1976.

They find themselves in Group A alongside Mali, Zambia, and the Comoros.

Regragui has called up 28 players for the CAN, including Achraf Hakimi, Bilal El Khannouss, Yassine Bounou, and Iyoub El Kaabi.

In an interview with Foot Mercato, El Khannouss said: "We will play the most important tournament in Morocco’s history, because it is played on our home soil."

He added that Morocco has a high-quality squad, great fans, and that they will play at home with no excuses, giving their all to win the continental trophy.

Khannouss also said that the group is strong, representing Morocco is an honor, and regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench, the country comes first and he will accept any role.

When asked about opponents defending Morocco with a solid block, El Khannouss said: "We always play to win, some teams defend with a block against us, and that is natural given our quality."

He added, "We expect that in the CAN, we are ready; we have learned how to win these kinds of games, whether through individual brilliance or set-pieces."

He concluded, "We know what the Moroccan people expect from us, and we will enter the continental tournament with a single aim: to keep the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco."

Punchline 1: If Morocco wins, the trophy will finally have a home address—no more passport stamps for it.

Punchline 2: The Atlas Lions will celebrate so hard that even the trophy will demand a selfie with the fans.