Sports Mole previews Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying conflict between Morocco and Central African Republic, together with predictions, team information and attainable lineups.
Morocco will goal to lengthen their spectacular document on the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this weekend once they meet the Central African Republic at Stade d'Honneur d'Oujda on Saturday.
Heading into the third gameweek of qualifying, the hosts have a robust place, at the moment main Group B with six factors, whereas the guests sit in third place within the group standings with three factors.
Preview of the Match
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Morocco might be seeking to safe one other six factors over the subsequent two matchdays as as a consequence of their upcoming opponents' stadiums being deemed unsuitable for worldwide competitors, subsequent week's ‘away' leg between these sides will even happen right here in Oujda.
This will present the Atlas Lions with an important likelihood to construct on their flawless document on this contest, following a dominant 4-1 victory over Gabon of their opening match and a 1-0 victory over Lesotho on the street in week two.
With these outcomes, Walid Regragui‘s team at the moment are undefeated of their final six matches, triumphed in every of their final 4, and netted a formidable 13 objectives throughout their successful streak, whereas solely conceding as soon as.
Since their large disappointment on the earlier Africa Cup of Nations, the Atlas Stars have competed in 4 matches on residence turf and emerged victorious in three, with the only exception being a scoreless draw towards Mauritania in a pleasant again in March.
These groups final encountered one another through the group qualification for the 2021 AFCON event and Morocco emerged victorious in each encounters, extending their unbeaten streak towards this adversary to 5 matches, together with three triumphs and two stalemates.
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Meanwhile, the Central African Republic are at the moment collaborating of their ninth AFCON qualification marketing campaign and are optimistic that this 12 months would be the one the place they lastly safe a spot in the principle draw.
Les Fauves started their qualifiers on a excessive observe, defeating Lesotho 3-1 on the opening day final month, however they didn't proceed that momentum, struggling a 2-0 loss on the street to Gabon 4 days later.
Still, Raoul Savoy‘s squad has a constructive document in 2024, with 4 triumphs in six matches, with their solely different defeat this 12 months coming in an exciting 4-3 match towards Ghana in World Cup qualifying again in June.
Nevertheless, regardless of the advance proven by CAR in latest months, they nonetheless want to deal with their tendency to concede objectives simply, as evidenced by their final three matches the place they conceded a complete of seven objectives.
In addition to resolving their defensive shortcomings, the guests might want to improve their away document in the event that they wish to have an opportunity of qualifying. In their final 12 matches on the street, Les Fauves have succumbed to defeat 9 instances and emerged victorious solely as soon as.
Morocco Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying type:
Morocco type (all competitions):
Central African Republic Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying type:
Central African Republic type (all competitions):
Team News
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Morocco suffered a late harm setback within the lead-as much as this match, with Manchester United full-again Noussair Mazraoui pulling out from the squad to reportedly endure a coronary heart process after experiencing palpitations.
Other notable omissions for the Atlas Lions this week embrace people like Brahim Diaz and Hakim Ziyech as a consequence of harm whereas rising expertise Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal obtained his preliminary name-as much as the nationwide team.
For the guests, Louis Mafouta has been their main attacking power in latest instances, scoring 5 objectives in his final three matches, together with a hat-trick within the loss to the Black Stars again in June.
The Amiens striker is predicted to companion with CSKA Sofia ahead Goduine Koyalipou within the assault for this match, whereas Marseille's Geoffrey Kondogbia is anticipated to orchestrate the guests' midfield.
Morocco potential starting lineup:
Bounou; Abkar, Aznou, Aguerd, Boudlal; El Khannouss, Amrabat, Saibari, Ounahi, Ezzalzouli, En-Nesyri
Central African Republic potential starting lineup:
Youfeigane; Gambor, Yoga, Ndobe, Tatolna; Baboula, Solet, Kondogbia, Namnganda; Koyalipou; Mafouta
Our Prediction: Morocco 3-1 Central African Republic
Despite the Central African Republic reaching some notable outcomes lately, they haven't encountered a team with the caliber of expertise that Morocco possesses, and we imagine the guests will wrestle to maintain tempo with the Atlas Lions on this encounter.
For statistical evaluation of probably the most possible outcomes, scorelines, and extra for this match please click on right here.
