CHAN 2020 Qualifier: Morocco Optimistic of Qualifying

On Friday, Morocco home-based Atlas Lions handler Houcine Ammouta said that the team was optimistic of not only beating Algeria on Saturday but qualifying for CHAN 2020.

Ammouta made the assertion in an interview with Algeria news outlet DZ Foot in Algiers while reacting to the team’s preparedness for the Saturday qualifier.

He said that the team’s expectation was positive and with such a state of mind, victory was guaranteed.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “We respect Algeria, but we are here as the defending CHAN champions and we really want to qualify for CHAN 2020 in Cameroon and defend our title.”   [/perfectpullquote]

The coach, who restated the team’s readiness to qualify for the championship, appealed to Algerians to support them.

However, Ammouta added that he would have wished to have three or four players who won 2018 CHAN edition so as to boost the morale of their colleagues.

The Atlas Lions will do it without dependable players Ayoub El Kaabi and Mahmoud Benhalib due to injuries sustained during training.

El Kaabi starred at the 2018 tournament, scoring nine goals in six matches for the host nation.

It was the same year Benhalib was the leading scorer with 12 goals in the CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

In absence of the duo, Mohamed Nahir who turns for Wydad Casablanca as a full-back is expected to score important goals that will steer the side past their North African rivals.

The game will be played on Saturday, 21st September at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida. The second leg will be played at the Stade de Marrakech on October 18.

The winner of the two-legged qualifier will book a ticket for the tournament that will be hosted in Cameroon next year.