Morocco's Atlas Lions Aim for Redemption Against Angola

Soccer, Friendly Match

As the dust settles on the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, the Moroccan national team will be looking to redeem themselves after a disappointing round of 16 exit when they host Angola in an international friendly on Friday. The Atlas Lions entered the tournament as one of the favorites but were stunned by South Africa, crashing out earlier than expected.

On the other hand, Angola exceeded expectations by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. The Giant Sable Antelopes put in some spirited performances before being eliminated by eventual champions Nigeria. This friendly provides both sides with a chance to build on their AFCON showings ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

For Morocco, ranked 12th in the FIFA rankings, it will be an opportunity to reassert their status as the top team in Africa. Coach Walid Regragui will expect a response from his players after the AFCON disappointment. Key players like Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, and Hakim Ziyech will be keen to make amends.

However, Angola will be no pushovers. Despite missing some of their star players like Gelson Dala and Fredy for this match, they have proven to be a tough nut to crack under coach Pedro Goncalves. Striker Agostinho Mabululu, who scored three goals at AFCON, will lead the line.

The bookies make Morocco the clear favorites at home, with odds of 1.85 for a win and over 1.5 goals. For the more adventurous, backing both teams to score is priced at 2.09, while a halftime lead for the Atlas Lions is valued at 1.95.

Regardless of the result, this friendly should serve as valuable preparation for both sides as they aim to go one better at the next major tournament. Morocco will seek to re-establish their continental dominance, while Angola will hope to show their AFCON run was no fluke.

As the pre-match hype builds, all eyes will be on the Grand Stade d’Agadir to see if Morocco can roar back to form or if the resilient Angolans have another surprise up their sleeves. Stay tuned for what promises to be an intriguing international friendly encounter.