Ex-footballers pile huge pressure on Moroccans at Africa Cup of Nations: 'There are no excuses'

Ashley Davis22/12/2025

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Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Monday, December 22, 2025, 5:03 p.m. / Updated Monday, December 22, 2025, 5:07 p.m.

The Africa Cup of Nations officially kicked off this weekend. In the opening match, Morocco won 2-0 against Comoros. Expectations surrounding “The Lions of Atlas” have never been higher. After the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup, they are considered by many to be the main favourites. Ali Boussaboon and Karim El Ahmadi, former Moroccan players, spoke about Morocco's chances of winning the trophy, being one of the favourites.

The two former Morocco internationals believe there is a lot of pressure around the national team who reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Morocco, one of the favorites to win the trophy

Boussaboun, born in Morocco and raised in the Netherlands, describes the intensity of the passion for soccer in Morocco.

“If you think football is loved in the Netherlands, you should take a look there. The atmosphere at a regular Netherlands World Cup match is the same as at a Morocco friendly. It's such a crazy country for football. You can compare it a bit with South America, it's total madness,” the former professional footballer told sportnieuws.nl.

According to him, Morocco's status as a favorite cannot be denied. The former striker of teams such as Feyenoord and Utrecht, considers it an advantage that his country is the host of this edition, and the players must take advantage of this.

“They have a fantastic team and the facilities in the stadiums are excellent, so there are no excuses. We have to do it. The only backup is pressure. I hope I can use it as fuel,” he said.

Ex-footballers pile huge pressure on Moroccans at Africa Cup of Nations: 'There are no excuses'

Ali Boussaboun, in the Morocco jersey / Imago Images

El Ahmadi played thirteen years for the national team. It is told what it is like to play for the national team, but also the pressure that is on the shoulders of the players, being considered one of the favorites.

“Playing for Morocco is special. If you perform well with your country or at your club, you notice that you get a lot of respect when you go back to Morocco. You're really carried around.

I think all the big African Cup countries are favourites, precisely because all the facilities in Morocco are so good. On a good pitch, quality players stand out, so this is an advantage for countries with big players. It's just that Morocco is of course playing at home and had a fantastic qualification.

It has been so long, all of Morocco longs for it. Isn't it strange that with so many good players we hardly ever win an African Cup? That creates, of course, additional pressure, but it can also be positive. I strongly believe that the public will push Morocco forward“, he concluded for the previously mentioned source.