AFCON: Bilal El Khannouss aims to end Morocco’s 50-year trophy drought

Morocco’s quest to host and win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will face a stern test when they battle Nigeria in the semifinals on Wednesday.

The Atlas Lions, who are chasing their second AFCON title since last lifting it 50-years ago in Ethiopia, will square off with the three winners at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Speaking ahead of the epic encounter, Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, 21, talked about the dream to end the five decade trophy drought.

“Yeah, of course, it means a lot and we want to give this title to our country because it has been a long time since Morocco won the AFCON.

“And I think, even today, the last time we went to the semifinals, I wasn’t even born, so we are really proud but we’ve done nothing yet. We have two games left and we’re going to prepare [well] for the next one.”

The 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinalists are aiming to reach their first AFCON final since 2004, when they were runners-up after losing to hosts and eventual winners Tunisia.

“Yeah, of course, we’re going to prepare for the next game like we always do, and if you want to win the tournament you have to beat everyone, so we take whoever is coming and we go on.

The winner of this semifinal fixture will face the winner between Egypt and Senegal in Sunday night’s final, while the losers of both fixtures will meet in the bronze medal play-off on Saturday.

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