A place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be on the line on Tuesday when Morocco and DR Congo square off at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
Kick-off is at 19h30 GMT.
Morocco went to DR Congo and managed to come back heads high following their 1-1 draw on Friday last week, and a win is a must at home as they would like to make a sixth World Cup appearance.
The game is an opportunity for Atlas Lions to qualify to compensate Moroccan football fans for the team’s performance in this year’s African Cup of Nations.
Coach Vahid Halilhodzic will look forward to leading his team to victory and will be inspired by the first leg performance, as they pushed their more illustrious opponents all the way.
Key players such as Romain Sais and Tarik Tissoudali will have to continue where they left off in Kinshasa and help their team to get a win.
“We played against a very good team. Everything remains to be done in Casablanca. The pitch and the heat, it was too complicated today,” said coach Halilhodzic in a press conference.
“We will do better in the return leg but this was the playoff match par excellence. We’ll do better in the return leg, but this was the playoff match of all matches.”
On the other hand, the visiting team will also target a win as they’d like to mark their return to World Cup with a bang.
DR Congo have featured in one World Cup back in 1976 and the current squad wants to re-write its own history by qualifying to the global showcase event.
The Leopards record away from home is a cause for concern, as Tuesday’s visitors have won just one of their last five matches on the road.
Coach Hector Cuper is aware of the task at hand, and he will have to motivate his troops and aim to cause an upset away.
Players such as striker Yoane Wissa, who scored the lone goal last week, and skipper Dieumerci M’Bokani will be expected to lead the Leopards on the day.
In head to head statistics this would seventh meeting between these two nations. Previous meeting produced a draw while the other games ended in draws and a win apiece.
