AFCON: El Khannouss says Morocco have no excuse not to win

Morocco national team midfielder Bilal El Khannouss believes the host nation will have nowhere to hide it they don’t lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The takeover is near. ⏳

Morocco is 9 days aways from going full #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/uEuyHu9RH5

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 12, 2025

The 35th edition of the tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is set to kick of on December 21 and run until January 18 in the North African nation.

According to El Khannouss, the upcoming competition will be important for the country and further made it clear the team has no other option than winning.

Drawn in Group A, the Atlas Lions will face Comoros, Mali and Zambia as they begin their quest for continental glory.

Morocco have everything needed to deliver AFCON

“This is the most important competition in Morocco’s history, especially since it will be held in our country. We have everything we need to deliver a good tournament,” El Khannouss said as quoted by Morocco World News.

“We are playing at home, so I believe there are no excuses. We will do everything we can together to try and win this title.”

The semifinalists from the previous edition will enter under immense pressure, widely viewed as favourites after a record run of 18 consecutive victories. The home fans expect nothing less than a title—their first since 1976.

Coach Walid Regragui has named a 28-man squad with injured defender Achraf Hakimi making the shortlist alongside Yassine Bounou, Sofyan Amrabat, and striker Youssef En-Nesyri.

28-man squad for AFCON

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Casablanca).

Defenders: Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal (Stade Rennais), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids), Jawad El Yamiq (Al Najma), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St Germain), Adam Masina (Torino), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Romain Saiss (Al Sadd), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven).

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Bilal El Khannous (VfB Stuttgart), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Oussama Targhaline (Feyenoord).

Forwards: Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland).