Background:
Morocco are one of the continent’s most successful teams and will fancy their chances of reaching the latter stages of a tournament missing several heavyweights.The Atlas Lions have not won the Africa Cup of Nations for 36 years, however, and the likes of Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal represent major road blocks on their route to success this time around.
Morocco finished top of their qualifying group, conceding just two goals in six matches. Marouane Chamakh was their top scorer with just two goals, and coach Eric Gerets will hope the striker can rediscover his form after a miserable 2011 with Arsenal.
Gerets will look to the likes of Adel Taarabt, Mbark Boussoufa and Houcine Kharja for creativity and a place in the semi-finals is by no means out of reach.
23-man Morocco Africa Cup of Nations Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca), Issam Badda (FUS Rabat), Mohamed Amsif (Augsburg, Germany)
Defenders: Jamal Allioui (Al Kharytiyath, Qatar), Michael Chretien (Bursaspor, Turkey), Badr El Kaddouri (Celtic, Scotland), Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (Montpellier,France), Mehdi Benatia (Udinese, Italy), Abdelfattah Boukhriss (FUS Rabat), Mustapha Mrani (MAS), Ahmed Kantari (Brest, France)
Midfielders: Houcine Kharja (Fiorentina, Italy), Adil Hermach (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Karim Ahmadi (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Younes Belhanda (Montpellier, France), Mbark Boussoufa (Anzhi Makhachkala, Russia), Youssouf Hadji (Rennes, France), Mehdi Carcela (Anzhi Makhachkala, Russia)
Forwards: Noureddine Amrabat (Kayserispor, Turkey), Oussama Assaidi (Heerenveen, Netherlands), Youssef El Arabi (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Adel Taarabt (Queens Park Rangers, England), Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, England).
Player to Watch:
Adel Taarabt
The Queens Park Rangers forward is back in the side after abandoning the squad in June, only for coach Gerets to forgive him. Taarabt will be one of the most naturally gifted playmakers on show at the tournament and if he can supply Chamakh with the service he needs, Morocco could be in business.
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