The fight against Morocco and Mali … a decisive fight and against the “old curse”

If victory is achieved in Mali, it will be certain Morocco Qualifying for the tournament scoring five times in a row, a feat that has not been achieved since that dark period between 2006 and 2013 when the team failed to advance in the group stage in four consecutive editions.

Like you guys want Ibrahim Diaz To achieve the “opening double” (winning the first two matches) for the fourth time in their history, repeating what they have achieved in 2004, 2019 and 2021.

Historically, Morocco has an important history in “second tier” games, as it has avoided defeat in 16 of the 19 matches it has played in this tournament throughout its history, with 8 wins and 8 draws compared to 3 defeats, and has not tasted a second defeat since the 2012 edition against Gabon.

And you will be fighting Money Special emotional and historical standards for Atlas Lions executive director, Walid Al-Rakraki; He was one of the key players in the team that met the two teams in the semi-finals of the 2004 Tunisia edition, and on that day Morocco won with four unanswered goals, a victory that is still counted as the biggest victory for Morocco in the history of Morocco. African Cup of NationsIt also remains the heaviest defeat in the history of Mali in the tournament.

It is still important to be careful with the events of the “2008 edition”, when Morocco won its opening game by five, then fell in the second round in Guinea on the way to farewell the competition, which is a trap that Regragui wants to avoid.

“Historical Curse” Challenge Match

And on his side he is entering Mali’s national team The conflict is under the pressure of the “curse of history” strange, as the official figures of the African Cup of Nations show that the “Eagles” are suffering from a complete decline in the games of the second group of the group. Since their only victory in 2004 against Burkina Faso, Mali have played 9 consecutive games without a win in the second round, as they have drawn 5 times and lost 4 times.

This digital “Jinx” that continues for 21 years makes coach Tom Saintveit not to face a mental problem before reaching the skill, especially since the team is facing an opponent who has not lost in 12 consecutive matches in the group, he has won 9 and drawn 3, and his last defeat in this round started in 2017.

It should be noted that the national team of Mali has never lost in its opening match in the African Cup of Nations, and it maintained this good record by drawing with Zambia in its first match in Morocco.