Morocco vs Senegal Preview 🦁🇲🇦
After 324 days without an international fixture, the Atlas Lions are finally back in action when they host Senegal in a friendly in Rabat on Friday evening. A lot has changed in little under a year since Morocco’s last game and the fact that the fixture will be played behind closed doors will obviously make for a totally different viewing experience, but it’s great to have them back!
The Squad
Vahid Halilhodzic initially named a 26-man squad for the two upcoming friendly fixtures with Senegal and DR Congo, but there have been several problems that have arisen since the announcement. First of all, Zouhair Feddal picked up an injury in Sporting Lisbon’s recent game and has been replaced by Reims centre back Yunis Abdelhamid. Nabil Dirar tested positive for Covid-19 so Achraf Lazaar has taken his place. Ajax duo Noussair Mazraoui and Zakaria Labyad were not given permission to join up with the squad by their club as they would be obliged to go into quarantine on arrival back into the Netherlands. Newcomers Sammy Mmaee and Munir El Haddadi are unlikely to feature as they await international clearance as both have official caps for other countries youth and senior sides respectively. Notable absentees from the selection include Oussama Idrissi, who has been injured and has been given time to settle in at new club Sevilla, Adel Taarabt (injury), Nordin Amrabat (injury) and Amine Harit (Covid). Younes Belhanda and Faycal Fajr have also been left out.
However, more positive news is that Hakim Ziyech has been in training as he gets closer to a return to full fitness having yet to play for Chelsea this season due to a knee injury. There are also first call-ups for Soufiane Chakla, Dries Saddiki, Nassim Boujellab, Aymen Barkok and Moha Rharsalla.
What to Expect
With such a long time since Halilhodzic has worked with his squad, it’s hard to expect the side to be at their free-flowing best against Senegal, especially with some important players missing. Having said that, there will hopefully be a positive performance to build on, with solid defensive structure and neat patterns of play in the attack ahead of the important AFCON qualifiers in November.
After his brilliant exploits in the Europa League for Sevilla, Yaccine Bounou looks to have cemented his spot in goal and should come into the squad full of confidence after another good display at the Nou Camp last week.
Romain Saïss has reportedly been made captain of the side, and possibly with Nayef Aguerd, who has had an excellent beginning of the season with new side Rennes, they could start to build a good partnership in the heart of defence.
Full back positions may give the Bosnian a bit of a headache. He has made his intentions clear that he wishes to utilise Achraf Hakimi in a more attacking role, and with Mazraoui unavailable, it leaves Issam Chabake as his only right back alternative. The other side is also a problem, with both Hamza Mendyl and Achraf Lazaar failing to play a single minute this season.
Going forward, Sofyan Amrabat should anchor the midfield but without Adel Taarabt, who partners him is up for debate. With wingers Oussama Idrissi and Nordin Amrabat out, it will also be interesting to see who starts in the wide areas along with Hakimi.
Youssef En-Nesyri is likely to start up front for the Atlas Lions, even with the recent renaissance of the experienced Youssef El-Arabi at Olympiacos. Halilhodzic could also shift En-Nesyri out wide and play El-Arabi down the middle.
All in all, there are a lot of unknowns that are to be expected with such a long period of time between these upcoming games and our last game against Burundi.
The Opponents
AFCON 2019 runners-up Senegal will be without star man Sadie Mane, who tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of Liverpool’s game with Aston Villa last week. They welcome back Schalke centre back Salif Sane from a long-term injury, and he is likely to partner Kalidou Koulibaly.
In central midfield, they have PSG holding midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Crystal Palace’s Cheikou Kouyate, with exciting, young wingers in Watford’s Ismaila Sarr and Club Brugge’s Krepin Diatta which Morocco’s full backs will have to be wary of.
Prediction
With both sides likely to be rusty due to the extended period away from playing together, both coaches possibly experimenting with new players and systems and the fact that each team will be without some important players, I predict a tight 1-1 draw.