The Real Madrid star, having Algerian origins on his mother’s side, was present during Morocco’s 1-1 draw against Mali in the group stage. Many see Morocco winning the CAN for the first time since its coronation in 1976.
Morocco favorite for an exceptional run at the CAN
Morocco began its CAN campaign with a 2-0 victory over Comoros last weekend, thanks to goals from Brahim Diaz and a superb acrobatic return from Ayoub El Kaabi after the break. The Atlas Lions could do no better than a draw against Mali on the second day, Diaz’s first-half penalty being equalized by Lassine Sinayoko in the second half.
Morocco, the host country of the tournament, has not yet qualified for the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations, but it sits first in Group A with four points from two matches. Morocco ends the group stage with a meeting against Zambia on Monday evening, and an elimination of Walid Regragui’s team would be a huge surprise.
“Mbappé really loves Morocco”
If the draw against Mali undoubtedly disappointed Morocco, the presence of Mbappé against the Super Eagles gave confidence to the Moroccans, who are aiming for a second world title in the African Cup of Nations.
Mbappé’s trip to Rabat for the Boxing Day tie highlighted the close relationship between the French star and Moroccan captain Hakimi, forged during their time together at PSG. Discussing Mbappé’s trip to North Africa, Hakimi highlighted how the Real Madrid star feels at home in the country, saying the striker “really loves” Morocco.
“Mbappé really loves Morocco”
Regarding Mbappé’s visit to Morocco, Hakimi said: “
Kylian Mbappé really loves Morocco. He appreciates our country. He likes Moroccan cuisine, if I understand correctly. »
Furthermore, the 27-year-old also shared his thoughts on the AFCON. Confident in Morocco’s abilities to go far in the competition, Mbappé remained optimistic about the Atlas Lions’ chances of winning the title.
“He said we were candidates for victory, but there were also many other teams,” Hakimi added.
Egypt and Nigeria, two African heavyweights, have both booked their ticket to the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations, with six points each from their first two matches.
Egypt, the most successful team in AFCON history, beat Zimbabwe and South Africa to advance to the round of 16. Nigeria, for its part, easily disposed of Tanzania and Tunisia to reach the next round.
