AFCON: Eymael explains why Morocco will be difficult to beat

Belgian tactician Luc Eymael believes Morocco have all the ingredients required to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that kicks off on Sunday in the North African nation.

This will be the first time the AFCON will be played over the Christmas and New Year period, and will bring together the best from African soil.

Ahead of Morocco’s opener against Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, Eymael, who vast experience handling team in Africa, has thrown his weight behind the Walid Regragui-led side to take home the trophy.

Morocco have every advantage to succeed

“My favourite to win the AFCON is difficult,” said Eymael as quoted by Flashscore. “It is a difficult choice, but I will say Morocco because they are playing at home, because they have a competitive team, and because they have a good coach.”

He added: “We have seen Morocco with U17, U20, and U23 teams doing very well in recent years, and at the same time there is a lot of pressure on them to win this AFCON.

“I watch most of their games during the qualification campaign, and they are a complete team that can compete effectively to win the AFCON.”

Discussing the opener against Comoros, Eymael said: “Comoros is a difficult team to beat, and since several years back, they are building a solid team, but there will be pressure from Morocco that will help them to win the game.

“I think Morocco will win the game, it is the same thing with Bafana Bafana in the World Cup playing against Mexico, they won the game with the crowd wisdom, with the 12th man, so if Morocco players resist playing under pressure, I think they will win it.”

He concluded: “Comoros will not be a walk in the park, of course they will be there to prove to everybody that the qualification to play in AFCON was not a fluke.”

After playing Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday, Morocco, who have been drawn in Group A, will then come up against Mali, before taking on Zambia.