Morocco: Atlas Lions Searching For Glory

After several years of absence at the forefront of great African soccer rendez-vous, the Atlas Lions of Morocco are back. This time not only to participate but to write African soccer history in the present tense. With a brilliant qualification balance sheet that saw them emerging top in Group B with 11 points ahead of Cameroon thanks to their better goal difference, the Atlas Lions under the auspices of French trainer Herve Renard are poised to put an end to the 43year-barreness of the senior national football team.

Reasons why head coach Herve Renard has placed his confidence only on European-based players. Prominent amongst them are, Ajax Amsterdam star Hakim Ziyech who had a scintillating season with the Dutch giants after scoring 21 goals and 24 as sists in all competitions, and onloan Borussia Dortmund defender Achraf Hakimi who made the cut after recovering from injury. Though the Moroccans have had a series of set-backs in friendlies against Argentina and Gambia, they have continued to keep the dynamic spirit awake.

Their last friendly outing before they k...