The Stats Zone
October 11 2024, 11:41 · Alex Lawes

Morocco vs Central African Republic Preview & Prediction | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group B

Morocco vs Central African Republic Preview & Prediction | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group B

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Morocco have already qualified for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations as hosts but they are still playing the qualifying stages to maintain their momentum and fitness as they look to head into the tournament as the major favourites.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 12th October, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – beIN Sports streaming platforms

MOROCCO PREVIEW: MARVELLOUS MOROCCANS

Coached by Walid Regragui, Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-final of a FIFA World Cup in 2022 but once again underperformed at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

However, with such an impressive squad and Regragui still at the helm, the Atlas Lions will head into the next AFCON as arguably the favourites and they showed their quality with comfortable victories against Gabon and Lesotho during the September international break.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PREVIEW: UNCONVINCING SIDE

The Central African Republic, nicknamed ‘The Wild Beasts’, are currently ranked 128th in the world by FIFA with Raoul Savoy as their coach and Olympique de Marseille central midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia their captain.

The Central African Republic began their 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign by winning one, against Lesotho, and losing one, against Gabon in their opening couple of matches last month.

MOROCCO TEAM NEWS: ATTACKING DEPTH

Morocco have a plethora of attacking options with a vast array of emerging attackers such as Amine Adli, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Bilal El Khannouss, Abde Ez, Osame Sahraoui and Ilias Akhomach as well as the currently injured Brahim Diaz.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Munir; Hakimi, Ageurd, Abdelhamid, Aznou; Targhalline, Ounahi, Richardson; Akhomach, El Kaabi, Adli

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC TEAM NEWS: RELIANCE ON KONDOGBIA

As mentioned, Marseille midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia is the key standout player with the most pedigree in the visitors’ squd but they do have some other talent to rely on in attack such as Louis Mafouta and Goduine Koyalipou.

PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Youfeigane; Yangao, Gambor, Ndobe, Tafolna; Baboula, Solet, Kondogbia, Dangabo; Koyalipou, Mafouta

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

MOROCCO VS CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PREDICTION

Morocco have been developing something of a so-called ‘golden generation’ and they will be targeting a trophy in the next few months with their impressive and deep squad. The Atlas Lions will be expected to take the game to most teams, especially with their home advantage, and up against what is quite an average Central African Republic side, the Moroccans are the firm favourites for this one to win quite comfortably.

MOROCCO VS CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC TIP: MOROCCO TO WIN

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