FIFA World cup Qatar 2022 : A new manager and the return of an exiled player are ingredients for an intriguing World Cup finals for Morocco.
It's a baptism of fire for Walid Regragui, who took the top job in September - less than three months before the Qatar showpiece event.
The former Morocco international replaced Vahid Halilhodzic, who was fired due to disagreements with the country's football federation over preparations for the World Cup.
Regragui will be looking to lead the Atlas Lions into the knockout round after the failures in their last three attempts.
The North African nation came agonizingly close in 2018 Russia, conceding a last-gasp own goal to lose 1-0 to Iran and allowing Spain to steal a 2-2 draw with a late goal.
Morocco, who are playing in their sixth World Cup after making their first appearance in 1970, became the first African team to reach the knockout round in 1986.
Redemption is on the cards for Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, who returned from exile following the exit of their former manager. The 29-year-old was so unhappy under the disciplinarian Halilhodzic that he even announced his international retirement.
Ziyech is clearly part of Regragui's plans after he was deployed alongside Angers winger Sofiane Boufal to support Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri in a 2-0 friendly win over Chile last month.
The new-look attacking trident should get plenty of scoring chances if Achraf Hakimi is in form. The Paris Saint-Germain right-back is one of the best-attacking fullbacks in world football and has pace, skill, good passing, and an eye for shooting with eight goals in 53 games for Morocco.
Morocco are in a tough Group F that features European heavyweights Belgium, 2018 finalists Croatia and Canada.
Their first test in Qatar will be against Croatia on November 23.
The Atlas Lions have played 16 games in the FIFA World Cup out of which they have won 2 and lost 9.
Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti
Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Badr Benoun, Romain Saiss, Yahya Attiyat Allah, Jawad El Yamiq, Achraf Dari
Sofyan Amrabat, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Selim Amallah, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, Yahya Jabrane, Anass Zaroury*
Hakim Ziyech, Abde Ezzalzouli, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Sofiane Boufal, Ilias Chair, Youssef En-Nesyri, Walid Cheddira, Abderrazak Hamed Allah
Morocco vs Croatia - 23rd Nov; 3:30 PM IST – Al Bayt Stadium
Morocco vs Belgium - 27th Nov; 6:30 PM IST – Al Thumama Stadium
Morocco vs Canada – 1st Dec; 8:30 PM IST- Al Thumama Stadium
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All FIFA World Cup 2022 matches will be available to all viewers for free on JioCinema; JioCinema is available to download for all telecom operators.
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