Morocco’s Wild Card: Zaki Says AFCON Is Wide Open, Contenders Keep Surprising

Overview

Former Morocco coach Badou Zaki says you can't reliably predict the Africa Cup of Nations champion given the depth of quarterfinalists this season.

He notes that Morocco has a convincing edge: they know how to win against any opponent, a trait fans have long demanded as the path to glory remains uncertain.

Morocco's Lions of the Atlas are praised for adapting to different match conditions and grabbing victories at home or away.

From the coach's lips: contenders and form

In an interview with Al Araby Al Jadeed, Zaki described the field as too strong to call the champion before the knockout rounds. He also highlighted Algeria's fluctuating form despite a flawless group stage and Egypt's need to prove itself with Salah and Marmoush leading the charge.

He stressed that while much is expected from the Atlas Lions, the absence of Azzedine Ounahi due to injury is a real blow; yet the Moroccan squad depth could mitigate the impact.

Injury notes and closing takeaways

Ounahi's injury absence is acknowledged, but Morocco's bench is ready to fill the gap. The coach also noted that Tunisia's exit in the round of 16 was not surprising given their missed chances against Mali and that the tournament remains open with many capable sides.

Punchline 1: If football were a stand-up set, AFCON would be a room full of crowd-surfing jokes—unexpected, exhilarating, and sometimes offside. Punchline 2: Morocco's never chasing the trophy; the trophy keeps getting a ride on their bus because clearly it wants to be seen on every stop.