Morocco coach downplays pressure as AFCON hosts face Cameroon quarter-final
Morocco coach Walid Regragui has shifted pressure onto Cameroon ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash on Friday, insisting the Indomitable Lions have more to lose despite the hosts being tournament favourites. Speaking in Rabat on Thursday, Regragui highlighted Cameroon's failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup as motivation for their opponents. 'Cameroon are on form, and this is their competition because they have everything to lose. If they go no further they will have to wait two or three more years for another major tournament,' he said. Morocco, ranked Africa's top side by FIFA, face historical pressure as tournament hosts—a scenario that ended in semi-final defeat to Cameroon in 1988. The coach acknowledged his team carries weight of expectation playing at home but noted they have the World Cup in four months as another target. Regragui expects captain Achraf Hakimi to start again after his return from injury in the narrow last-16 win against Tanzania. The PSG defender played his first 90 minutes of the tournament in that match but Regragui says he's yet to reach peak form. Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat remains an injury doubt with an ankle problem, while veteran defender Romain Saiss is also not fully fit. Hamza Igamane is fit again after injury. Cameroonian coach David Pagou admitted facing the host nation is daunting, noting Morocco's unbeaten home record provides extra motivation for his young side, who eliminated South Africa in the last 16 after a chaotic build-up that saw them appoint a new coach weeks before the tournament. The quarter-final kicks off Friday at Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat.