Morocco begin their quest for their second Africa Cup of Nations Cup title when they take on Ghana at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé on Monday.
Kick-off is at 16h00 GMT.
The Atlas Lions qualified for the 2021 AFCON after winning Group E of the qualifiers which consisted of Mauritania, Burundi and Central African Republic.
Coach Vahid Halilhodžić will have to motivate his side to go all out and bag a win to ensure they stand a good chance to reach the next round.
Morocco have in recent years produced some of the continent’s finest performers, but somehow they have struggled to put it all together in tournament football when it has mattered.
The Atlas Lions arrived in Cameroon without Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, who was left out following a row with coach Halilhodzic. They will miss the services of FC Barcelona wonderkid Abde Ezzalzouli who withdrew from the squad.
Despite these high-profile absences, Morocco’s national team are again are seen as favourites to bag the continental crown with renowned players like Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Yassine Bounou, and Youssef En Nesyri set to deliver the trophy.
Ranked as the second best team in Africa after a spotless record in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers, the Moroccan squad knows they have to do better as continental glory it will not come easy.
Ghana have won Africa Cup of Nations title four times, a record they held before being overtaken by Egypt and Cameroon who have won it seven and five times respectively.
In their maiden appearance, Ghana hosted the fourth edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1963. They opened their Group A campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tunisia, before beating Ethiopia 2-0 to go top of the group and reach the final.
The Black Stars will bringing their touch of the fast attacking football as they try to emulate the 1982 that last won the continual trophy
However, Milovan Rajevac’s men must be prepared to fight for their lives in the tournament to live up to their fans’ expectations.
“At the AFCON, we will have the ability to play against some of the big teams like Morocco and Gabon. We have the opportunity to get to know the teams even better. But time is on our side for more matches, and we will do much better at the AFCON,” coach Rajevac said.
Perhaps historically the side do not boast strongest squad in their history but the West Africans can call upon Arsenal’s midfielder Thomas Teye Partey, Stade Rennes’ winger Kamaldeen Sulemana and captain Adre Ayew.
The four players are expected to bring pace, power, strength, trickery and a clinical nature that provides the side with all the artillery they’ll need to unlock stubborn defences.
It is all a composition of young, hungry and driven, a talented spine that has made many of the Ghanaians believe that it is now the time to add the fifth star.
