The Atlas Lions and Stallions face off on Wednesday in a quest to recover from poor showings at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
By Rami Ayari
منتخب المغرب لكرة القدم (Morocco)
| PROBABLE LINEUP |
MOROCCO  LamyaghriBasser, Benatia, Zekroumi, Boukhriss Belhanda, El Ahmadi Amrabat, Boussoufa, Barrada El Arabi |
BURKINA FASO  DiakiteTall, Koulibaly, B. Kone D. Kone, Koffi, Rouamba, Kobre Traore, Pitroipa Dagano |
Wednesday’s friendly international encounter between Morocco and Burkina Faso at Marrakech stadium will have plenty of meaning for both sides. While Paulo Duarte was already sacked for the Stallions’ failure to move past the group stages of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Eric Gerets has held on to his job, for now.
However, another setback is unlikely to be tolerated as the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has already been under a great deal of pressure from the sporting public, journalists, and government officials for sticking with the highly-paid Belgian.
Gerets will have to do without his injured captain, Houcine Kharja, as well as Badr El Kaddouri. Meanwhile, Adel Taarabt has been dropped for his poor attitude during Morocco’s 2012 Afcon campaign while Oussama Assaidi was overlooked and allowed time to recover from a knock to his achilles that prevented him from shining, as many expected he would, in Gabon.
Thus, the former Marseille manager will likely put forth a new-look lineup as he searches for increased physicality to go along with his players’ fine technical skills.
As for the visitors, former assistant coach Mocktar Baro is expected to take the reins of the Burkina Faso team while the Burkinabe FA continue their search for a permanent replacement for the departed Duarte. The temporary coach has called up 24 players for the game, amongst whom Adama Guira marks his return.
Another returnee is the controversial Cameroonian-born Herve Zengue, who was deprived of the 2012 Afcon participation for fear that his selection would disqualify the Stallions. Given the Court of Arbitration for Sports’ (Cas) ruling on the subject, he is now fully qualified to represent Burkina Faso. On the injury front, Alain Sibri misses out after suffering a knock during the continental showpiece.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Burkina Faso won the first game between these two countries back in 1994. The game ended 2-1 in Ouagadougou.
- The biggest margin of victory in this game goes to Morocco, who beat the Burkinabes 4-0 in 1994. All the goals were scored in the second half.
- Out of all six games between Morocco and Burkina Faso, only one has ended in a draw. That was in 1995 when the match in Rabat finished goalless. Otherwise, Morocco have won four times and Burkina Faso just once.
- Morocco are 62nd in the Fifa rankings while Burkina Faso are in 75th place.
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