Morocco coach pleased with performance against Sudan

Jamal Sellami

Monday Jan 22, 2018. 14:00

Morocco coach Jamal Sellami said he was satisfied with his team’s performance in a 0-0 draw with Sudan in their final Group A match at the 2018 African Nations Championship on Sunday night.

The Atlas Lions fielded a much-changed line-up compared to their earlier wins over Mauritania and Guinea, but the stalemate was still enough to see them top the group, with the Sudanese finishing second and joining them in the last eight.

Sellami explained that he was happy with the way the new-look team performed: "We did not win today, but we achieved our goal,” he stated after the match.

“We made the decision to line up a completely redesigned team to give other players the opportunity to have some playing time and to gain confidence.”

He added, “I do not know what will happen in the future, but I have at least one idea about my entire [squad]. I told them that I was surprised at the level they showed.

“I am satisfied with the performance of Jawad El Yamiq, Abdelali M'hamedi, Badr Boulahroud, Ahmad Hamoudan. I'm glad I put the other players in the competition [mix].

“We are ready to defend our chances to the end. We will do our best to achieve our goal, namely to win the title.”

Morocco will face either Zambia or Namibia in the quarterfinals, with the teams set to decide who finished top and second of Group B in their meeting in Marrakech tonight.